Andrew Petersen ’20, M’21, a graduate of the Architectural Design + Technology program in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA) is continuing his education at UHart to pursue his Master of Architecture degree (MArch). Upon receiving his MArch, Petersen’s goal is to work with licensed architects to acquire the hours necessary to sit for the architect registration exam to become a licensed architect.
Petersen took advantage of many opportunities inside and outside the University. He was able to land three internships during his undergraduate years because of the skills he developed grew from his coursework. “UHart helped me by always challenging me to be the best designer that I could be,” he says.
In the summer of 2018, Petersen worked at a contracting firm in New Jersey, CMM Custom Homes, where he was able to gain hands-on experience with construction. In the summer of 2019, he then interned at the New Jersey architectural firm Barlo, Governale & Associates, LLC, where he put together construction documents for custom beach homes. Finally, during the spring 2020 semester, he interned part-time at Pickard Chilton in New Haven, Conn., where he helped work on visualizations for a skyscraper in Texas.
Petersen’s hard work has paid off. This past June, he passed his exam for the LEED Green Associate. This is an accreditation from the Green Building Council that affirms a professional's thorough comprehension of green building principles and practices. Petersen’s official professional title is now Andrew Petersen, LEED Green Associate.
Petersen also received multiple recognitions and awards going into his senior year. First, he was awarded an ISI Florence Spring 2019 Outstanding Achievement in Architectural Studies at the end of the spring 2019 semester while studying abroad in Florence, Italy. The Florence International Studies Institute awards students who demonstrate exemplary performance in their design studio class.
In the fall of 2019, Petersen and another architecture student, Randy Begin ’19, M’20, were recipients of student awards through the CT Green Building Council (CTGBC) for one of their individual projects and were the only students awarded in the state-wide program. Petersen’s archaeology laboratory project was recognized under the Student Design Award of Merit by the CTGBC. This is a design for an archaeological research facility for the ruins of Pompeii in Naples, Italy. Located on the outskirts of Pompeii, the lab engages researchers and scientists with the ruins, enabling them to improve artifact research and historical knowledge about the culture and infrastructure of the ancient Roman city. The building aims to implement net-zero strategies (requires no energy from offsite sources) to reduce its carbon emissions on the surrounding environment.
Petersen was then commissioned with fellow architecture student Giancarlo Cano ’20 to build a 3D model of the highly anticipated Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum’s new 9,000-square-foot Education and Visitors Center in Wethersfield, Conn., designed by Mellowes & Paladino. The museum proposed the partnership opportunity to Architecture Graduate Program Director and Associate Professor of Architecture Seth Holmes, and Adjunct Professor of Architecture and Woodshop and Digital Fabrication Lab Manager Julie Chen, who recommended the two students for the project.
Despite the spring 2020 semester transitioning to distance learning, the Department of Architecture hosted an exciting new design competition for students to design a new bus stop for the UHart campus. Petersen was awarded first prize for his design in the competition. The project aimed to expand the existing bus stop located at the front of the campus. Petersen’s original project features a closed and covered glass area to combat any cold winds, rain, or snow. An extended canopy with plants and seating provides shade from solar rays so that people can sit in a shaded area on a sunny day. And, to promote structural expression and school pride, he used the University "H" as a column to support the long cantilever.
Finally, during the Department of Architecture Virtual Student Awards Ceremony this past May, Petersen was one of two student recipients of the David N. Labau Memorial Architecture Scholarship. The purpose of the endowed scholarship is to honor the memory of David N. Labau, FAIA, by awarding a scholarship to a student studying architecture at the graduate level who demonstrates outstanding academic performance and leadership.
Andrew Petersen ’20, M’21, architectureUHart provided me with the skills that are required to be successful in architecture. What I found different from the architecture program at UHart versus other schools was its strong presence of engineering. This was something that I was looking for in a school and happy that I found the perfect one.
Along with his numerous achievements, Petersen gained key leadership skills as the president of the American Institute of Architecture Student (AIAS) student-run organization on campus. Petersen says his favorite thing about UHart was the student-to-faculty ratio in the architecture program. “I was able to gain strong connections with all the professors in the Department of Architecture,” he says. “This allowed for in-depth class discussions and a great architectural education.”
With a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, Petersen easily connected with many of his faculty in the Department of Architecture, including Associate Professor Ted Sawruk. “Not only is he one of my professors, but he is also a personal mentor of mine. I first had him for my Design Studio II course sophomore year, and since then have had him for many other courses,” he says. Petersen goes on to say Sawruk helped push his skills to the next level and always challenged him to take the next step in his architectural design process. “He has helped me submit to multiple design competitions and, in some cases, receive first prize in those competitions, most notably the CTGBC (Connecticut Green Building Council) student design award of merit, where I submitted a design for an archaeology laboratory in Italy.” Petersen worked closely with Professor Sawruk on this project and Sawruk was ultimately the one to encourage Petersen to enter it into a competition.
Petersen says his experience at UHart was so good, it made him want to stay for graduate school. Not only was he able to make many friends, within and outside his major, but he felt his faculty genuinely cared about him. It’s because of this he feels he was able to succeed as much as he did, because his faculty were just as passionate about the design work as they were about teaching.
When asked what advice he would share with incoming students, Petersen says, “If you want to make the most of your college education, you need to push yourself.” He goes on to say the connections he made, the mentors he gained, and the success he achieved in the past four years did not come from doing the bare minimum. Therefore, he encourages students to not be afraid to pursue their dreams, get involved, and see what opportunities lie within their major.