Oxford Brookes University
The institution I joined, The Department of Real Estate and Construction, was a dusty remnant of what had existed as Oxford Polytechnic Building Science Department. An anachronism, as had been my secondary modern comprehensive school, the department was equipped to train a technical workforce; ranks of lathes and industrial gadgetry stood idle in wait of the scrapman’s torch. Our cohort was the last to be inducted to the course by the very long-teaching Bob Branch, a former professional builder, and former Architect, Prof. Brian Wood. Two mantras were instilled from the beginning; Construction activity is cyclical with the economy, and Bullshit Baffles Brains.
During the course, I focussed on skills pertinent to building design. I was interrogated by senior staff members following a report of foul-play in my coursework having been made. The Construction Information Technology lecturer simply didn’t believe that such detailed work could have been undertaken by a student. The task presented was to make a simple house design, to a given specification, in AutoCAD. We had to produce plans and elevations, to demonstrate proficient use of the software. I spent over 500 hours producing a fully furnished house model in 3D, modelling every component from extruded shapes; as soon as I started modelling houses in 3D, I was hooked. This achievement stood me in good stead for my work experience placement where I would produce every construction drawing for a large executive home.
The consistent excellence of my written work and in-lecture contributions gave me the option to transfer to the prestigious BSc Construction Management programme, endorsed by The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), which ran in parallel to BSc Building. Where I had scraped onto a course with minimal entry requirements, assisted by my practical experience, I could now graduate from a course requiring 2 A’s at A-level as a prerequisite.
As a prize awarded to the author of the best report of the Construction Management International Fieldtrip, which had been to Amsterdam, The Jerry Fletcher Prize gave me a contribution towards an international trip. I used the money to take the Trenhotel sleeper train to Barcelona, to study the architecture.
I was member no2. when the Brookes Real Ale Society was established in 2006, part-way through my first year. I was President in my final year, and would be a member until BRAS’s final year in 2013.
I made an application to the ISA Charity, who offer travel scholarships to students at several institutions. I made a proposal to travel around Europe by train; Poland, Sweden, Germany. It was my aim to see on the ground, and interview the residents of, the much vaunted low-carbon eco-village developments that were being used as case studies in the UK. This study became the basis of my dissertation.
In my final year, I took part in a CIOB event, with my friend Chris Swainland. Lecturer Esra Kurul wrote; “I’d like to thank you both very much for your contribution to the CIOB event yesterday evening. As I stood at the back and listened to you both, I became even more proud of what we do here. Your enthusiasm and curiosity will take you places in life and it feels good to have played a small part in it.”
I graduated in 2009 with a First Class Honours Degree, and won the prize for Best Student on Course. I left a legacy of change initiated from my role as student representative, changes that shape the Department of Real Estate and Construction to this day.
I was adopted as a mentor by the recent school-leavers. One of them thanked me using words to the the effect; “…if you hadn’t asked all those questions in lectures we wouldn’t have known what was going on!“.
By the end of the course, both Brian and Bob had retired, the department was being amalgamated, and it’s fantastic wave-roofed 1960’s technical teaching building was demolished. The Student’s Union became a coffee bar, and then itself was demolished and replaced by a meagre airport waiting room. There is no Brookes Real Ale Society, there is no BSc Building course with an easy hop-over to Construction Management for bright students stymied in their schooling; the institution I joined is gone. I certainly don’t expect that an Oxford Brookes lecturer will again be able to say to a student “Don’t worry too much, your dog has been to more lectures than most of the students!”, as Mars Street had once said to me.
As the redevelopments ware taking place, an image of my face was pasted to the side of a temporary teaching building. ‘Growing Talent, Mark Wright, Construction Management’ was printed next to the enormous pixelated photo, which became something of a landmark for a while, before itself being destroyed.
When I graduated, I sold my van, and moved into a council flat in my hometown. I selected ArchiCAD Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, so I could work in 3D throughout my projects, and started my solo practice in 2010, taking advantage of a a New Deal scheme run by the Jobcentre. I placed small adverts in local circular magazines, offering designs for extensions. I took on an extension job for one family member, and was introduced to a developer / landlord by another. I accepted small commissions for inexpensive fees for several years at the beginning of my practice, trading as Mark Wright Design.
My business concept was Collaborative Architecture; using a 3D model in a live-design session with the clients themselves, so they could have their say as the design came together. I would then tidy things up in my office and manage the planning application on my client’s behalf. I incorporated Shared Vision Limited in November 2013, named to encapsulate the collaborative process.