Amelia Birkett

From a young age architecture and construction has been a huge passion. I have always been fascinated by buildings and structures regularly helping my family renovate houses for rental or sale. I have always learnt most effectively from hands on experience and so the natural route of progression for me upon finishing my A levels was to begin working in a drawing office full time while studying a University Diploma in CAD during evenings and weekends at University of Derby. I am currently building on this knowledge by studying part time for my BSc Hons in Architectural Technology at Leeds Beckett University on day release from HTC Architects where I have been working as an Architectural Technician since 2016.

Whilst studying my University Diploma at the University of Derby I worked as a Junior CAD technician at Thurston Building Systems, a large modular building company. I worked on fabrication and fit out drawings for both small and large scale projects in addition I regularly drafted point loading drawings and I believe that this would help me greatly in understanding the aspects of design from a structural standpoint.

In March 2016 I moved to HTC Architects, working on large scale developments such as industrial warehouses, retail schemes, supermarkets, housing schemes and existing unit refurbishments from predominantly feasibility through to planning phase, working on tender and construction drawings. On recent projects I have begun to independently consider how to reduce the both residual hazards and creating fire strategy drawings from the conception of the project.

I regularly liaise with clients and sub-contractors for landscape design, arboriculturists, planning consultants, structural and civil engineers and on site contractors.

Additionally I have attended procurement meetings with clients to aid them in selecting a main contractor at Tender stage as well as attending site and client meetings during the planning and construction phases in addition to this I have frequently taken part in CPD lectures on subjects such as roofing membranes, building regulations and specifying materials.

Outside of work and studying I have very varied hobbies including Ice Skating/Hockey, Skiing and Running. I like to challenge myself each year to do something different to raise money and awareness for different charities close to my heart. These have included training for and competing in a white collar boxing match for Cancer Research, skydiving from 15,000 ft for Sheffield Children’s Hospital, running in multiple Race for Life events, competing in a muddy obstacle course with the help of my own rescue dog for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and in March 2020 I completed my first half marathon.