Accent Architects interns get a practical head start

Architecture school teaches us to use our imaginations, but it takes experience to put ideas into practice, says Accent Architects intern Eliza Crocker..

A student at Victoria University’s Architecture School, Eliza is one of many architecture students who have learned the ‘how’ of their profession by complementing their studies with internships at Wellingtonheadquartered Accent. To cap it all, a project Eliza worked on, the Artist’s Studio, sited at the rear of a half-acre lot on Greytown’s historic Main Street, won an award in the Small Project category of the 2009 Wellington Branch New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) Awards.

“You learn all the creative stuff at university, but it’s the hands-on practical aspects of meeting a client’s needs that show you how all that theory works,” says Eliza. She and fellow student Collin Crabbe, who began his internship three years ago, have seen Accent shrug off the recession and broaden its base so it can readily take on work ranging from highquality renovations to large commercial projects. “We’ve grown a lot, and the senior architects who have come on board are great for Eliza and me because we can draw on their experience in a wide range of project settings,” Collin says.

Massey University senior lecturer Russell Wallace says Accent’s balanced approach to design and technology is reflected in the number of architectural technology interns they’ve taken from the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology. “Accent recognises the practical importance of architectural technologists, and has been absolutely brilliant giving architecture interns wide-ranging practical experience. The feedback’s been outstanding from students, Accent itself and the company’s clients,” Russell says.

Interns at Accent tend to stay. Eliza came for a week in 2007 after winning a national competition, while Massey graduate Sally Martin, who was a summer intern in her final year, is still at Accent two years after graduating. Collin, who comes from Canada, completed a mechanical engineering degree while on a gridiron scholarship in the US. He believes the internship has given him the edge over most graduates who only begin their practical experience upon completing their degrees.

“It’s not just activities ranging from initial design to 3D modelling, rendering and presentation work, that have been valuable,” he says. “It’s a great work environment – we’ve got access to a library packed with the latest books on architecture, travel and art. When you’re stuck for inspiration, it’s got plenty of ideas.”

Accent director Malcolm Fleming says the intern programme has benefitted the students and Accent itself. “We had our first intern in 1997. It’s great for them because they get a headstart in their careers and it’s a win for Accent because we get a steady stream of talented graduates who are well versed in our culture and really hit the ground running,” he says.