This summer we were pleased to welcome Oxford Brookes University student Maria Fernanda Almeida to the studio for a six-week paid work experience placement.

The opportunity arose through our commitments to the Oxford Covered Market project, as part of our ongoing programme of placements for students from Oxford Brookes. The internship enables students to gain experience of practice across a range of live projects and design stages.

During her placement, Maria Fernanda contributed to digital modelling and drawing work, research for Design and Access Statements, and attended consultant meetings. The experience offered an introduction to the collaborative processes behind architectural projects, from early research and planning through to design development and coordination.

Reflecting on her time with us, Maria Fernanda said:

“From my first day, I was made to feel like a member of the team, which allowed me to engage openly with the practice and gain a genuine insight into the profession.”

“Being able to apply SketchUp and Vectorworks to live projects allowed me to move beyond my academic understanding of the software and begin to recognise how digital modelling and drawing form part of a much wider architectural workflow. I was also fortunate to attend consultant meetings, which gave me valuable insight into the collaborative nature of architectural practice.”

Thank you, Maria Fernanda, for your contribution to the practice.