AU architecture student wins silver medal at National Skills Contest

This followed his first-place finish in the post-secondary Architectural Technology and Design competition held on May 8-9 in Edmonton as part of the 2019 Skills Canada Alberta provincial contest. Thus, the silver medal ranks him among Canada’s most skilled architectural technologists. He has had a lifelong enthusiasm in architecture and currently works for an Edmonton architectural firm.

He is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BSc Arch) degree program at AU. The BSc Arch program is Canada’s first online architecture program and is offered by AU in partnership with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). It is a pre-professional program that prepares students for AU’s Graduate Diploma in Architecture or, alternatively, for a Master of Architecture degree at another institution. More details on the BSc Arch program and the options that are offered can be found at AU’s RAIC Centre for Architecture site.

Waldbillig’s favourite course in the BSc Arch program so far is Architectural Design Theory Fundamentals (ARCH 330). ARCH 330 explores the creative process of design through a series of reading, investigation, and analysis of ideas in architectural form and relationships. In essence, the course trains students to appreciate the purpose of architecture as a cultural artifact. A range of other courses are also offered in the program.

He said with AU, he has been able to successfully manage his school work, along with a full-time job and other commitments.

“I have a full-time job at an architecture firm in Edmonton, Alberta,” he said. “I’ve also been volunteering as a coach at a hockey association in St. Albert for the last three years. AU has allowed me to work full time, volunteer and do my studies at the same time.”