Hear from our Alumni – An Interview with Calven Lee

Over the next couple of months, we will be speaking to students, alumni, faculty and members of the Practice Network, who will share their experience of studying and working at the LSA to help you understand more about the school as you prepare to apply for 2023/24.

The first person we caught up with was Calven Lee, an alumnus who studied at the LSA from 2018-2020. During his time at the LSA he did his placement with HÛT Architecture. His final project was called ‘The City Reservoir’, which focused on investigating the green and blue spaces of London – looking into the importance of the water cycle to cater for London’s future freshwater demand as an expanding city. He is currently working as an Architect for Wright & Wright Architects.

Curtain Road, Shoreditch. Calven worked on this project, a 58,000 sqft Cat A commercial office in a Grade II Listed furniture warehouse, during his placement at HÛT architecture. Photography 

Calven, why did you choose to study at the LSA?
I started studying at the LSA in 2018 when it was a relatively new school and it seemed like a great opportunity to connect with people who are working in the industry and also involved in academia. The LSA offered the opportunity to do things differently – the ability to continue gaining practice experience whilst also helping to shape what new modes of architectural education should offer.

Did you enjoy working in practice alongside studying? Did you find it helpful for your career after you left?
I very much enjoyed it. I had the opportunity to continue as an Architectural Assistant at HÛT Architecture during my LSA Student Placement in First Year. For those that are capable of navigating academia and practice together, the benefit of gaining additional industry experience is clear. It has helped me tremendously as an early career architect.

Did studying at the LSA change how you design?
Yes, it has allowed me to see design from a broader, more considerate and more inclusive perspective. My time at the LSA included a lot of travelling around the city to attend lectures, meetings, and crits, which meant that I was always interacting with people, the city and our collective needs.

Calven’s final project at the LSA was called ‘The City Reservoir’. It focused on investigating the green and blue spaces of London – looking into the importance of the water cycle to cater for London’s future freshwater demand as an expanding city.

What’s the alumni community like at the LSA? Are you still in touch with much of your cohort?
We keep in touch quite often. Our cohort shares a messaging group and we have helped each other throughout our early careers, whether it’s sharing new upcoming job opportunities or giving each other advice as early career architects.

What’s your strongest memory from your time at the LSA?
Most definitely the time spent together in the studio! It was the place of honing our project work but also collaborating, evaluating, and sharing resources. You bond the most with people you work together with on group projects or spend most time in the studio with.

Broadway Market. Calven studied when the LSA was located on Mare St, and he and his cohort would spend time away from the studio at Broadway Market. Photography by Bo Morgan.

And finally, what would you want current prospective students to know?
The school is exciting, exhilarating and the experience gained is worth the work. Those who are able to finesse the balance between time working in practice and their academic assignments will benefit the most. The LSA provides an opportunity to gain more valuable hands-on experience while learning – and I really appreciated this duality.

That’s great, thank you Calven!

If Calven’s experience has made you want to learn more about the LSA MArch programme, you can learn more here. You can also apply to join the LSA in 2023/24 here.