Matthew Harrison – Curriculum Vitae Personal Details:
Address: Mobile: E-mail: Nationality:
9A Cavendish Avenue, Dore, Sheffield, S17 3NJ 07463 767605 matthew.9a@btinternet.com British
Profile:
• I have recently completed my undergraduate study of architecture at Newcastle University and will be graduating with a 2:1 in July 2018. • I have an ambition to design buildings that make a difference, and provide spaces for people to enjoy. • I have a passionate and enthusiastic attitude to learning and furthering my knowledge combined with strong interpersonal and team building attributes. • I have always achieved highly in my education and I have strong interests and talents in mathematics, art and design. • I have developed strong communicational skills and confidence in my own ability over my time at university. • I have architectural work experience with two summer placements. • I am competent at using AutoCAD, SketchUp, InDesign, Photoshop and Premiere Pro, with previous experience using Revit, Lumion, Illustrator and DIALux. • I am also a dedicated sportsman, enjoying playing and watching sport.
Newcastle University – BA Architecture – 2:1 Final Year Projects:
Architectural Design – Getting Away From It All • Learnt how to more critically analyse precedents through extensive model making. • Increased my cross disciplinary skill set in the creation of a poster, a video, a short furniture series and a sliding façade mechanism. • Continued to develop my critical contextual analysis skills in my study of the people and place of Blyth leading to my subsequent site selection. • Developed strategic research and design skills in order to work efficiently in producing my design for a maritime museum in Blyth which focuses around a 50m long WWII submarine. • For more information on this project please refer to my attached portfolio. Architectural Technology • The integrated design strategy that was encouraged throughout first year allowed me to create a more developed and thorough strategy that responded to multiple aspects of technical design. • Thanks to a study trip to The Netherlands I learnt about the design and construction used throughout many pieces of Dutch architecture and had to specifically study the Utrecht University Library that was designed by Wiel Arets. Dissertation in Architectural Studies • My dissertation looked at the relationship between environmental conditions and productivity and achievement of students in secondary schools. It discussed how three schools have applied the previous research and theories of environmental psychology into their designs. I also analysed the importance of this research in order to create a successful school by comparing personal experimentation to existing literature on the subject.
2nd Year Projects:
Architectural Design – At Home In The City, Engineering Experience and Exploring Experience • Improved physical and experiential site analysis skills due to visiting sites in Edinburgh and Berwick for the two main projects. • Developed teamwork skills in the formulation of a masterplan strategy for Cables Wynd and its surrounding in Leith. • Individually designed a dwelling plus scheme within this masterplan. • For the Engineering Experience project, I learnt how to use Adobe Premiere Pro as we aimed to create a response to a scene from Hitchcock’s, ‘North by North West’.
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In the Exploring Experience project, I designed an artists’ workshop and gallery space that celebrated plastic. More about this project is featured in my summary portfolio.
Architectural Technology • Developed critical structural and constructional understanding through creating a detailed structural axonometric, using SketchUp, of my Leith Dwelling Plus design. Environmental Design and Services • Created a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) analysis document regarding my Dwelling Plus design and assessed energy strategies to improve the performance of my scheme. About Architecture: Cities, Cultures and Spaces • I wrote an essay titled “How Architecture Influences the Personalisation of Space” in which I looked art architects such as Gerrit Rietveld and Mies Van der Rohe.
1st Year:
Architectural Representation • Developed technical and conceptual hand drawing skills as well as software modelling skills on SketchUp and Revit. Architectural Design - Room Beyond the Frame, Reading Room and Row House Living • During the Room Beyond the Frame project I established basic model making skills in order to visualize space. • The Reading Room project focused more on developing critical site analysis and spatial design skills. • Throughout the Row House Living project I learnt more about elements such as client interactions and technical skills in order to create a more complete architectural project. Architectural Technology • Developed my structural understanding beyond the knowledge I had gained from my A-level studies • Gained basic solar analysis skills thanks to using DIALux. Principles and Theories of Architecture • Learnt about and wrote an essay on the architectural qualities of Meadowhall Shopping Centre and the effect it has had on Sheffield City Centre.
School:
King Ecgbert School, Sheffield (2008 - 2015) A Levels (A2): AS Levels: GCSEs:
Mathematics (A*), Physics (A*), Art and Design (A*), Further Mathematics (A*), EPQ (A*) Geography (A) Mathematics (A*), Art (A*), Physics (A*), Chemistry (A*), Biology (A*), Geography (A*), English Literature (A*), History (A*), Graphics (A*), Religious Education (A*), Additional Mathematics (A), English Language (A), French (B)
Employment, Volunteering and Work Experience Whittam Cox Architects (August 2017 – September 2017) My second architectural summer work placement was at Whittam Cox Architects (previously WCEC Architects). I was assigned to a project related to a proposed extension of the Bramall Lane football stadium’s south stand in Sheffield. My role was to create a vast and detailed SketchUp model of the entire stadium that contained information from both before and after the proposed extension. I also assisted in multiple smaller scale projects that involved the rearrangement of spaces using AutoCad. WCEC Architects (July 2016 – August 2016) My first architectural summer work placement involved working on a variety of projects. My original role was involving the development of elements of the Bramall Lane site for the Scarborough Property Group. Here I worked with a variety of programs including SketchUp, InDesign and Lumion to produce pre-application documents.
Throughout this work placement, the main project that I worked on was the conversion of a small office building in Blackpool into a youth hostel with a bar area, again for the Scarborough Property Group. They aimed for a scheme that involved minimal alterations while aiming to create more practical space than the existing unusual layout. I primarily used AutoCAD for this project as I generated plans from original buildings plans and measurements taken during a site visit. In addition, I supported multiple projects surrounding existing and new Morrison’s buildings. This introduced me to working with other members within the office, which helped me further develop interpersonal skills. Cordonier Architects (Y10 work experience – 2012) In Y10, I had my first architectural work experience when I was tasked with transferring plans and sections from one of their previous projects into AutoCAD and subsequently into Google SketchUp. I found this very helpful at the time as it gave me a basis of skills that I have since developed. Volunteer Cricket Coaching (June 2011 – August 2011) I volunteered to assist with the coaching of the junior section of Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club. My role was to take on board information the more senior coaches told me about drills they required setting up, organizing and running for the kids. This helped develop my confidence, leadership and management skills from an early age.
Personal Interests
Hockey: I am now in my 3rd year of playing hockey for Newcastle University Men’s 3rd XI, who represent Newcastle in the BUCS Hockey League. As a team, we train once a week and have two games per week. Previously I played hockey for Sheffield Hallam in Yorkshire Division 1 and at junior level, I captained my age group for five years. Football: I have a passionate interest in football and played football for Porter FC in the Sheffield & District Junior League for 11 seasons, winning one championship and one further promotion. I also received the managers’ player of the year award on two occasions. Cricket: I enjoyed playing cricket for 6 years as part of both Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club and King Ecgbert Schools’ team for my year. As part of the school team, of which I was an ever present, we reached the Northern final of the National Cup placing us as the highest achieving state school in the north of England. We also went 4 years undefeated in the Sheffield and District schools competition winning the cup four times. Other Sport: I also enjoy skiing and playing golf. I am a member of Abbeydale Golf Club in Sheffield. Driving: I have a full, clean driving licence. Travel: I also feel I am a very well travelled individual and have been lucky enough to travel to many different places including the Caribbean, the East and West coast of the USA, Dubai, Kenya as well as extensively around Europe including Portugal, Turkey, France, Switzerland and Italy.