Architecture Siol! (w Gabriel Chek‪)‬ Gabriel Chek

In the first ever episode of the Architecture Siol! podcast, I chat with Jean Cheong, Technical Director | Head, Architecture & Planning of WSP and Co-Chair of the Young Architect's League Singapore and discuss on her architecture story, the issues she faced and learnings she had along the way.
Show Notes
- Jean's experience with discrimination at the workplace as a young female Architect
- Jean's career journey and background in Real Estate (being headhunted)
- Importance of getting QP early
- What her role is as Technical Director of WSP
- What she is looking for in potential new hires at WSP (She's hiring!)
- Why she made an executive decision to raise salaries for deserving hires
- Her views on salaries for architects and designers
- Her role in the Singapore Institute of Architects Young Architect's League (SIA-YAL)
- Whether she feels Architects are united?
- "Don't throw things at people. Be composed"
- Why she joined SIA-YAL (hint: it's the same reason I joined as well)
- Her views on recent trends such as emphasis on sustainability and digitalisation in the architectural industry
- Her advice for young architects and fresh graduates.
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ABOUT JEAN
Jean is the Technical Director and the Head of Department in the Architecture and Planning division of WSP.
Prior to joining WSP, Jean was the Project Director and Architectural Qualified Person (QP) of Monetary Authority of Singapore Future of Workplace Transformation and Project Lead of JTC Bulim Infrastructure Phase 1, Infrastructure Phase 2, District Logistic Network (DLN Ramp) and Bahar Tunnel Part 1 of a larger Jurong Innovation District (JID) Masterplan.
Concurrently she was also a key member of the team working on Changi Airport Terminal 5, while being involved in the rejuvenation of Choa Chu Kang Sports Centre. She has also contributed substantially to various feasibility studies for developers’ land bids and competitions.
Jean is also certified Green Mark Professional and is passionate about upholding the highest standard of sustainability in her projects.
Outside of work, she is a member of the Young Women’s Leadership Connection (YWLC), a platform chaired by Minister Grace Fu for aspiring female leaders and a network that aims to empower and connect young female leaders. She was privileged to be selected as mentee under YWLC Mentorship, a prestigious programme offering an exclusive opportunity to be mentored by some of Singapore's most accomplished women leaders across various industries.
Jean is also a Co-chair of SIA Young Architects League (SIA YAL) for the term 2022 to 2024, a public outreach platform under SIA to engage and serve the architectural community, aspiring architects as well as architectural students in Singapore and is currently serving as a mentor for selected students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
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Watch/Listen to all of my Architecture Siol! podcast episodes at http://gabrielchek.com/podcast
If you would like to join me as a podcast guest, feel free to contact Gabriel at hello@gabrielchek.com.
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
Architecture Siol! is a podcast from me, Gabriel Chek, featuring Stories, Issues, Opportunities, Learnings within Architecture.
Tune in as I chat with fellow architects, designers and students to discover more about them and their ‘badass’ work in the built environment industry in Singapore and beyond.
siol - Singaporean slang (Singlish). Commonly used at the end of a sentence to emphasize the 'badass' qualities of someone/something.


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Graduating from Architecture School soon? You would want to tune in as I discuss all things relating to the challenges faced as fresh grads and how we can respond to the various issues that may be faced when starting out.
I chat with the creators behind the architecture content platform ArchiDabble - 3 students studying architecture based in the UK, comprising of Sude, Linda and Elif from the University of Westminster.
We talked about many topics, including:[01:34] - What were the highlights for the ArchiDabble trio this past year[03:36] - What made Sude, Linda and Elif start ArchiDabble? How did it start?[07:18] - Challenges faced as content creators?[13:17] - My advice for budding content creators[13:36] - Highlights of ArchiDabbles's content creation journey?[18:29] - What the trio thinks their best things they have put out on ArchiDabble is (in terms of vanity metrics and/or content)[21:38] - Future plans for ArchiDabble?[27:36] - What the trio see are problems with the Architectural industry[30:33] - "Do I have the luxury of choosing to say no to poor work cultures ie. working unpaid overtime as a fresh grad?"[34:47] - Why I believe things are changing for the better for the Architectural industry[35:46] - How can we raise our value as Architects?[36:49] - 7 percent of young architecture designers in Singapore are considering to leave in 3 years time[37:46] - What I am working on to tackle the issue of brain drain in the industry[40:52] - "As a Part 1 Architectural Assistant in the UK, we're just at the bottom of the food chain, how much of a say do we have with regards to work practices?"[44:56] - Advice for young architectural students, designers and graduates.
About ArchiDabble: 
ArchiDabble is a architecture content platform by 3 students studying architecture based in the UK, comprising of Sude, Linda and Elif from the University of Westminster.  Sude & Elif study on the Architecture BA course and Linda studies Architecture & Environmental Design BSc.   The platform was started back when they have had just finished first year of our undergraduate with the intention of providing extra support for current and upcoming architecture students alongside their studies.
Follow ArchiDabble: 
http://instagram.com/archidabblehttp://archidabble.com

ARCHLOGBOOK CHATS is available on Youtube, Spotify and Apple/Google Podcast. 
http://archlogbook.co/podcast
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Looking to showcase your portfolios to your prospective employers? Want to have an easier way to create and upkeep your project showcase online?  I chat with Jacek Urbanowicz, Melbourne-based, design technology specialist and registered architect on why and how our architectural industry can transform the way graduates and mid-career architects create and upkeep their portfolios and allow for equitable ways for firms to hire the right talents. Jacek is also the founder of architecture portfolio platform, tunarch.org, where he aims to establish a easier way to help firms and clients find the right designers through the contents of their work.  
We talked about many topics, including: 
[01:48] - Jacek's journey in architecture and his current work in computational design.  [13:44] - The main driving force for Jacek for his choice to explore various typologies and methods of design. [19:50] - Technology will drive architecture design and practice forward (it will be a sink or swim situation for architects, will you adapt or resist?) [21:32] - How Jacek sees a future way of practicing architecture with data-driven design principles and methodology [24:05] - How we see the role of the Architect changing in the next 5-10 years [28:40] - PSA: We need to adapt as Architects.  [32:00] - What Jacek's architecture portfolio platform Tunarch.org is about and who is it for? [35:50] - Why did Jacek start Tunarch.org? [47:21] - Jacek's advice to young architectural designers just starting out.  
Jacek is a Melbourne-based, design technology specialist and registered architect with almost a decade of professional experience. He works on computational design and building envelope development involving a-z coordination process and documentation.  He graduated from Poznan University of Technology, Poland and gained initial experience in Barcelona, Beirut and Shanghai. He previously worked at Bates Smart Melbourne office and currently at COX Architecture leading significant, large-scale projects.  Jacek is also developing a design portfolio management platform - tunarch.org - aiming to help clients find the right designers through the contents of their work.  Learn more and join his platform at https://tunarch.org.  Follow Jacek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacekurbanowicz/  
ARCHLOGBOOK CHATS is available on Youtube, Spotify, Google Podcast and Apple Podcast.  
ARCHLOGBOOK is an open online resource created by Gabriel Chek for architectural students and budding architects with blog posts on various architecture practice topics, ebooks, podcast episodes and resources which aims to help you gain more clarity and confidence in the design and practice of Architecture. Visit the website at http://archlogbook.co.  
Follow ARCHLOGBOOK 
Blog: http://archlogbook.coInstagram: http://instagram.com/archlogbookTelegram Channel: http://t.me/archlogbook

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Looking to get clients or increase your online presence as an architect? 
This episode breaks down the reasons why we as architects must begin to share about the value we bring to the project from concept to occupation. I chat with Dwayne Smith-Alexander, an architectural designer based in the USA on why and how our architectural industry can begin to better articulate our value through the documentation and sharing of all stages of the project. 
Watch the episode here: http://www.archlogbook.co/posts/why-should-architects-document-their-projects-archlogbook-chats-s2e6-w-dsmith-alexander
We talked about many topics, including: 
[00:53] - Dwayne's architectural journey / experience in working on the Pan-African Community Centre & Affordable Housing projects. [05:30] - Lesson learned : Being a student of architecture [06:37] - What was the process like designing for the Pan-African Community Center? [08:22] - Challenges faced during the design and construction of the projects [11:50] - Dwayne's vision for a documentary of his projects from start to finish from an Architect's perspective [15:06] - Why Dwayne started to work on this documentary [18:00] - What Dwayne believes Architects should be more active on social media and share all aspects of their work (Hint: to raise the value of our Industry) [21:56] - Why I believe future clients will appreciate (and pay for) our value if only we articulate what we do as Architects well. [25:32] - How will the industry change in the next 5-10 years, with technology for the design and construction of buildings evolving [28:46] - What Dwayne missed in Architecture School 10 years ago [31:23] - "We Are Students of Architecture even after school" [32:45] - Why Dwayne started to dabble in real estate investment to diversify his income [35:39] - Dwayne's involvement in the LOEM (League of Exemplary Men), a mastermind group focused on providing education on financial literacy and guidance to men. [38:15] - Why I believe should balance Architecture with other interests, networking with people in other industries and not stay in the "Archi Bubble". [38:35] - Anecdotes by a non-Architect that Dwayne applied in his architecture practice and works. [41:20] - Dwayne's Advice to architectural graduates and young designers who are just starting out. 
Dwayne Smith-Alexander is an architectural designer, urban theorist, singer/songwriter and real estate investor. He has designed affordable housing, civic and cultural structures for the benefit of African American + Caribbean communities in the USA as a design lead and architectural designer for Urban Architectural Initiatives. Dwayne is also a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) as a first-generation Jamaican American based architectural designer in New York City and the Caribbean region. He is also part of LOEM (League of Exemplary Men) A mastermind group focused on providing education on financial literacy and direct guidance to men on how to save and invest through the medium of creative real estate & e-commerce. 
Follow Dwyane:Instagram: http://instagram.com/dsmithalexander 
ARCHLOGBOOK CHATS is available on Youtube, Spotify, Google Podcast and Apple Podcast. 
ARCHLOGBOOK is an open online resource created by Gabriel Chek for architectural students and budding architects with blog posts on various architecture practice topics, ebooks, podcast episodes and resources which aims to help you gain more clarity and confidence in the design and practice of Architecture. 
Follow ARCHLOGBOOK 
Blog: http://archlogbook.coInstagram: http://instagram.com/archlogbookTelegram Channel: http://t.me/archlogbook

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If you're a fresh architecture graduate looking to bridge your gap in education vs practice - this episode is for you!
I chat with Chris Simmons who started his own mentoring platform called Architect's Instruction and discussed how we can do so.
We also discussed on how architects in the field can also contribute by providing access to on the job work processes and shared more about the realities of working in this industry, with the changing role of the Architect.
Show notes and video version of podcast can be found here: www.archlogbook.co/posts/s2e5-bridging-the-gap-between-architectural-education-and-practice-w-chris-simmons-alb-chats

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Looking to explore alternative careers in architecture or seeking ways to realise your true potential as an architecture designer? This episode is for you.
I chat with Ines Hemmings, creator behind @whatarchischooldoesnotteachyou who shares her journey in architecture, from going off traditional career paths and exploring ways to bring value to the architecture fraternity by following her heart. We also share about our views on the opportunities future technologies will create in the design and practice of architecture.
Show notes and video podcast are available here: http://www.archlogbook.co/posts/fulfilling-your-potential-as-young-architects-w-ines-hemmings-alb-chats-s2e4
ARCHLOGBOOK Chats is a brand new podcast where I, Gabriel Chek, sit down with architecture students, designers, practitioners and academics to discuss the various challenges, achievements and opportunities in the education and practice of Architecture.
If you would like to join me as a podcast guest, feel free to contact Gabriel at hello@archlogbook.co.  ARCHLOGBOOK CHATS is available on Spotify, Google Podcast and Apple Podcast. http://anchor.fm/gabriel-chek
ARCHLOGBOOK is a platform by Gabriel Chek that aims to increase clarity & confidence in young architecture students and designers. I create and share educational content of architectural practice via blog posts, Instagram, ebooks, workshops and videos.
Follow ARCHLOGBOOK Website: https://archlogbook.coInstagram: http://instagram.com/archlogbookTelegram Channel: http://t.me/archlogbook

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