Experiencing Full Circle Moments: Alumnus Builds a Bright Career Path

I was able to graduate from Lake Land with no debt, and if I hadn’t started at Lake Land, I’m not sure I would have been able to pull off those two extra years to get my master’s in architecture.

For Lake Land College alumnus Garrett Hoene, the best part of being an architectural designer is experiencing the “full circle” moments. They’re the moments that occur when he enters buildings and crosses bridges he helped make possible. As a designer for Lamar Johnson Collaborative in Chicago, Garrett has worked with some of the world’s largest companies to experience these full circle moments across the country. No two projects are ever the same, and he enjoys the process of working with clients from concept to completion.

Looking back at the start of his architectural journey, Garrett recalls discovering his interest in the field during his first semester at Lake Land in 2016. He had enrolled at the college with no specific program choice, but he quickly found a home the in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) program.

Garrett rapidly gained confidence and developed his skills as he progressed through his classes and accessed local internship opportunities with UTZ and Associates of Effingham and the Upchurch Group of Mattoon. Through these experiences, he completed projects at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and helped renovate schools throughout Mattoon, Charleston, Teutopolis and Dieterich.

After graduating with an associate degree in CAD and completing additional transfer classes, Garrett enrolled at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 2019. There, he completed a bachelor’s degree in architecture and graduated with a master’s in 2023.

“I was able to graduate from Lake Land with no debt, and if I hadn’t started at Lake Land, I’m not sure I would have been able to pull off those two extra years to get my master’s in architecture,” Garrett said.

Now thriving in the professional world, Garrett plans to complete the requirements to become a licensed architect within the next five years. With countless projects, accomplishments and milestones ahead of him, his journey is only beginning. Still, he’s come a long way from his days as an uncertain student entering the college environment for the first time, and he’s glad to have chosen Lake Land College as the stepping stone for his career.

“The idea of college can be scary, but by going to Lake Land, I got to understand the process and feel comfortable moving forward,” Garrett said. “I got to work with a lot of great advisors who made me feel safe about going to college.”

ARCHITECTURAL & CONSTRUCTION AREA OF STUDY

• Building Construction Technology

• CET/Advanced Technical Studies

• Civil Engineering Technology

• Computer Aided Design

• Geospatial Technology

• HVAC+R

• Residential Wiring

• Surveying with GIS

• Architectural & Construction Exploratory Area of Study

LEARN MORE

For more information or to get started in an Architectural & Construction Area of Study visit LakeLandCollege.edu.