London: First Impressions of a New Starter to Chapman Taylor

Alec Parcell recently joined Chapman Taylor London as an Architectural Assistant. 

Find out more about his passion for architecture, and his first impressions of working at Chapman Taylor.

What and where did you study?

Architecture -  University of Portsmouth School of Architecture.

Where did you work before joining Chapman Taylor?

Before joining Chapman Taylor in a full-time capacity, I had previously done work experience with The Buchan Group, Allies and Morrison and BCI studio. I had already had two successful spells of work experience Chapman Taylor, during my formative years.

What level of Architect qualification do you have?

RIBA Part1.

What do you love about being an architect?

Designing spaces that enhance the environment and change the way people live and work.  

What does your day as an Architect look like?

A relaxed wake-up and then the morning train. Catch-up on news and sport on the way in before getting down to work with conceptual feasibility studies on airport retail design, masterplanning on shopping parks and 3D modelling of sites. Getting the chance to have team discussions to share ideas and encourage creativity encapsulated throughout the daily routine. All rounded off with a game of squash.  

What is your favourite current project that you are working on?

Al Maktoum International Airport– having the opportunity to work on a global transportation hub of the future at such an early stage in my career is inspiring. It makes getting up for work in the morning that much easier when you are excited for what the day has to offer.

What has been the highlight of your time at Chapman Taylor so far?

Getting the opportunity to work with a diverse team of people and share our competitive nature on the Softball pitch in an unbeaten season.

What is the most interesting thing you have learnt in your first few weeks at Chapman Taylor?

Just how important it is to understand the client’s needs and how best to utilise the skills at hand within your team to achieve the best results.

Why did you choose Chapman Taylor as the company to work for?

Following my fantastic work experience placements with Chapman Taylor, I wanted to embrace the opportunity to work on a variety of International projects and learn more about retail design from directors with years of industry knowledge.

To find out about current work opportunities at Chapman Taylor Careers@chapmantaylor.com