Paige Jones has just graduated from MArch Architecture in July 2024, having also studied BA (Hons) Architecture at Leeds Beckett. Throughout her master’s, she received two separate awards for pieces of work she produced. In this blog, she talks through those experiences and what she enjoyed about studying at Leeds Beckett.

Courses: MArch Architecture and BA (Hons) Architecture

Tell us a bit about yourself, why you chose to study your course and what interests you the most about the subject area?

I have studied at Leeds Beckett University for the last six years to complete my undergraduate and master’s degrees in Architecture. I have developed my skills within architecture, expanded by working in an architectural practice during my MArch studies. I have developed an interest in the adaptive reuse of existing buildings to create an architectural relationship between the history of the existing building and the redevelopment of the building as part of a contemporary 21st century city.

What have been your highlights of the course? 

The highlight of studying my master’s degree would be receiving the Second Prize for the Edmund N. Bacon Urban Design Awards Student Design Competition 2023 and being able to visit Philadelphia, USA to present the competition entry at the awards ceremony during my first year of masters.

Myself and three other members from the design studio collated the entry: The Chinatown Inquirer, which focused on a 50-acre site in Chinatown, Philadelphia, USA that is subject to gentrification, resulting in suffering for the local community. Our proposal used the negative stories of the community, sourced through local newspaper articles, and created a lot of positive responses. The catalyst for our proposal was the invention of The Chinatown Inquirer, to discuss, display and report the positive changes physically and digitally around the site.

It was a great opportunity presenting the design scheme at the awards ceremony in Philadelphia and a lovely experience discussing the other winning entries with students from different universities.

Can you tell us about the award you’ve recently won? What was it for? 

A few weeks ago, I received the Highly Commended Judges Special Award at the Architects for Health Student Design Awards 2024, in London, for my MArch 2 Design Thesis – The Bank of Social Investment. The thesis proposes an adaptive reuse and extension scheme to the Bank House, an existing Grade II Listed building and former headquarters for the Bank of England in Leeds City Centre. The thesis provides a critique of the current banking system and suggests a solution to create a community bank which prioritises the wellbeing of everyone and spreads social value into the wider city of Leeds.

What did it mean to you to be recognised through these awards? 

It’s great to be recognised for awards whilst on the course as it’s a great way to meet other students and practices within the architecture industry. It definitely gives a confidence boost when completing your design projects for the course.

What are your plans for the future? 

Now I have graduated with a Master's of Architecture with Distinction, I will return to work at Mesh Architects, where I completed my Part I placement year, to continue developing my skills and start working towards my Part 3 Qualification.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about studying the course? 

To anyone thinking about studying the architecture course, I would say to just go for it! It’s worth the hard work and it’s a lot of fun working on creative projects. I’d also advise to participate in as many competitions and external activities as possible as they are a great form of networking to make connections within the industry.