Jake Wievel, Parker Jones, Zach Small and Stefan Golos are four juniors majoring in Landscape Architecture at UW-Madison. They spend most of their days on campus in the Landscape Architecture studio (aka “the dungeon”) in the basement of Agriculture Hall. As I interviewed this group, I couldn’t help but notice their creativity. My basic interview questions prompted a collaborative drawing that featured their individual defining characteristics which helped me place names with faces. According to their “specs”, facial hair (or lack there of) is the best way to identify each group member. The classification system ranges from “no” beard to “full” beard. This obvious creativity was an important reason why the students won the Green Building Council Natural Talent Design Competition last summer.
The competition challenged student teams to design a Sustainable Learning Center in Rosemont, MN for the Dakota County Technical College. Teams needed to incorporate a gathering place to educate and enlighten students and community members about sustainable design and technology. Teams could work with mentors who could help projects progress and aid student professional development. One of the UW-Madison team’s greatest accomplishments was working through complete building design, as opposed to just working with the landscape.
“It was an architectural competition so we had the chance to experience that element of the project.” said Small (“full” beard).
Student design competitions are a great way for students to learn about the architecture industry and demonstrate professional skills to potential employers. Participating in a team competition can also show experience with teamwork – an important characteristic to employers.
“Working with a team is very important in a [design] firm environment. To be able to show an example of collective thought – that makes it a great piece,” said Wievel (“okay” beard).
As a team, the students were forced to think through real-world challenges and opportunities outside of class.
“We don’t have that many opportunities to do group projects in-studio. I think one of the coolest aspects of doing this was just the shear amount of work we were able to get done by working as a group of four with a concentrated effort,” said Parker (“no” beard). “That experience mirrors a lot of the way a firm works, how the real-world operates.”
By participating in this “real world” environment, the team felt they were able to draw on each other to learn important skills related to the landscape architecture profession.
“We definitely learned a lot of things from each other that we wouldn’t have learned just working beside each other in the classroom.” said Wievel. “Everyone starts to specialize in their own areas and figure things out outside of class. Being able to take those special skills and bring these into a collective environment was great.”
Each student appreciated the competition and felt it was a great representation of skills they would use in internships and full-time positions. Student competitions are available for virtually every major/area of study. For information on how you or your student organization can get involved in student competitions, contact your academic advisor, career center or even alumni from your program.
Below is the project they handed in for the competition.
Matt Spence is a senior majoring in Genetics. In addition to genetics, he is also earning certificates in gender and women’s studies and LGBT studies. After he graduates in May, he hopes to enjoy another summer interning at Harvard University or touring Europe before entering medical school. Matt works in a research lab on campus, volunteers with PAVE, the LGBT Campus Center and St. Mary’s Hospital ER and is the Co-President of PRIDE (Promoting Recognition of Identity, Dignity, and Equality) in Healthcare-Undergraduates.
Q: How did this opportunity help you in achieving your career goals?
Laura Bechard is a senior major in Community and Environmental Sociology and International Studies. She had an internship this summer with the U.S. Department of State Consulate Office in Barcelona. She is from Osseo, Wisconsin and enjoys music, hiking, learning languages and sustainable agriculture.
Our latest Featured Bucky Intern is Jens Arneson. He is a senior majoring in Soil Science-Turf Grass Management and Scandinavian Studies. He interned this summer with Bioforsk-Norwegian Agricultural and Environmental Research. He is from Stoughton, Wis. and has been interested in golf and his Norwegian heritage his entire life.
