Architectus Senior Team member Carter Wu has accomplished a fair portion in a small period of time. Completing a Bachelor of Design in Architecture in 2013 and a subsequent Master of Architecture degree at the University of Sydney in 2016, the budding architect has interned in some of the Asia-Pacific’s premier studios before moving to the Australian-based firm.
The architect says he is fortunate to have worked within some of Australia’s foremost architectural practices on different scales. Collaborating on city-shaping projects with international-scale designers, Wu says it is surreal to be working alongside those he has looked up to for many years and is glad to be settled in the harbour city.
“Sydney is a fantastic place to study/work in the industry of built environment. It has a balance of the development momentum you see in the Asia Pacific and the sophisticated quality you expect in a developed market,” he says in an interview with USYD’s media arm.
Studying at one of Australia’s most recognised institutions, Wu says he took on a master’s degree at USYD in an attempt to enter the workforce sooner.
“To be honest, the main reason I chose to undertake the Master's degree was to fast track the process to becoming a registered architect. I was quite obsessed with making models when I was a student and the workshop facilities definitely stood out compared to other schools which became a key reason to continue my Master's degree at Sydney,” he says.
Wu’s time interning at various practices has shaped his belief that young architects must get into the industry as quickly as possible, to gain multitasking skills and work under the lingering pressure of time constraints and other projects.
“I think it is critical to start working in the industry while you are still studying at the university. People often learn the most during periods of overlapping responsibilities, so you really want to get the most of it. It also helps you to get a broad view of the industry and make tactical career moves when you graduate from school. You don't want to rush into the job market and settle on something just because you graduated.
“I find architecture education is mostly about promoting critical analysis and thought leadership. By taking this spirit into the workplace, I'm not just following instructions from senior leaders but also willing to play a "deviate" role to come up with alternative solutions, which can be challenging for young professionals.”
To find out more about Wu’s journey or the degrees he completed that put him on the path, click here.
