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What to do with a degree in architecture: from an architecture graduate

Lara is a recent international graduate from a UK university and is sharing her blog-experiences in her journey towards beginning her graduate career. This week Lara met with Hisham El Sergany, project manager of façade at Al Futtaim Carillion in Dubai, to learn about what it takes to build a successful career spanning 25 years in the architecture and engineering industry...

This week, I spoke to Hisham El Sergany, project manager of façade at Al Futtaim Carillion in Dubai, about his extensive 25 years of experience in the architecture and engineering industry, and I’ve come here to bestow my newfound knowledge upon the architecture and engineering fresh graduates of 2016!

Having worked in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE, Mr. El Sergany has accumulated a wealth of knowledge over the years. Growing up in a family where the majority of his relatives were architects, it is fair to say that architecture runs in his blood- quite literally. Read on for his words of wisdom about this ever-evolving industry, as well as some stellar advice to fresh graduates.

Why did you decide to study architecture?

Frankly, it all started because I come from a family of architects. My father, my brother, my uncle- all architects. I grew up in a family where architecture was, and still is, an important part of the family culture and business. When I was young, sitting around the dinner table constantly involved arch-related topics, so I’ve always been immersed in it. That’s why I never had a plan B, my one and only plan was to study architecture.

 

What did you expect to get out of it?

Not to be a designer, that’s for sure. Architecture is the mother of art, and an architect is the master builder. There are two directions after graduation: you either become a designer, and you have the sheer talent to do so, or you work in the field of architecture not as a designer, but as a facilitator of the building process. That’s what I was expecting, and that’s what I ended up doing!

 

Where did your journey start?

Straight out of university, my first job surprisingly happened during my military service as an officer. I suddenly found myself with 2 other colleagues in charge of a 2200 apartment project in Cairo, spanning over a whopping 80 blocks. Not only were we involved in the building process, but also in making major decision regarding all the facilities and infrastructure. It was there that I really learned everything about construction, from foundation up to the handing over.

 

So this goes to show that great opportunities can be tapped into through fairly unconventional situations?

Yes, precisely!

 

Did that first job change your perspective?

It didn’t change it, but it improved it. It gave me the experience that I needed to start my career.

 

Tell me about your current job as project manager - façade.

My job is to manage the external finishes/façade package of major buildings in Dubai, from the main contractor side through the sub contractors who are carrying out this package. It is a mix of engineering, architecture, project management, commercial and quantity surveying and contract management.

 

What led to your decision to pursue this somewhat niche fragment of engineering?

Finishes in general are part of the architectural scope. The challenges from the design stage up to the design development, the approvals, the executions of work in a constrained time frame and budget all give me tremendous satisfaction once the job is done, and make it a very rewarding career path.

 

What advice would you give fresh graduates, especially in our challenging time?

No matter what you are planning for your future, get a hands-on job at a construction site first, as this will really shape your career. Even if you are a designer or a structural engineer, don’t dream of working at an air-conditioned office with a cup of coffee in one hand and a pencil in the other from the get go. Try to spend a considerable amount of time at the beginning of your career at a construction site. Do summer training at construction sites. Immerse yourself in the basis of the design before you take a seat at that office desk.

More importantly, never stop learning, and never feel ashamed to ask even the smallest question. Ask the labour workers on site, because they will know more than you at this point, so they will always have something new to teach you.

In short, ask, ask, ask a million questions and keep going along the journey of learning!

 

Where do you see the future of architecture and engineering?

The impact of green buildings and environmental friendly structures, paired with the new technologies in construction like 3D printing will definitely shape the new skylines of modern cities. In other words, creativity will have to take a step back, and give way to IT-influenced designs.