Catherine McCoy // Sauerbruch Hutton Architects

Tell us about your PRP firm. Where are you working?

I am working for Sauerbruch Hutton Architects, which is a large architecture practice in Berlin. The office has over one hundred designers, architects, IT, and administrative staff members as well as 16 partners and 10 associates. Sauerbruch Hutton has a wide range of work from furniture and exhibitions to government buildings, office spaces, and multifamily housing.

Do you enjoy the city you’re working in? Favorite aspects?

Berlin is a really cool city, and a great city to live in if you’re interested in the arts. There are fantastic museums, galleries, and concert venues all over the city, and there are often city-wide events to further promote arts and culture. There’s always something happening here!

One thing I really like about Berlin is how much variety there is across different parts of the city. Berlin is made up of a bunch of different neighborhoods, each with its own life and personality. It’s always fun to hop on a train in one part of the city and then get off in another neighborhood: it often feels like a completely different city when I step off the train!

What is currently on your desk? What are you working on?

Right now, I have a cup of coffee, water, a sketch book, trace paper, and drawings on my desk. I have been working on a project in the early schematic design phase for the entirety of my time here, and I have helped produce drawings, diagrams, and physical models of our iterations. We’ve tested many design options and have gradually narrowed our way down to a final scheme. It’s been really fun to be a part of a project so early on in the design process!

Describe the firm culture? The office atmosphere?

The culture in the office is so nice. I think what’s really unique about Sauerbruch Hutton is how international the office is: there are architects, designers, and interns from all over the world. The culture at Sauerbruch Hutton is also really collaborative, and people are eager to offer advice and expertise across various projects.

There are also lots of organized events that help bring the office together. For example, during the summer, Sauerbruch Hutton organized weekly football practices after work, and there was a big football tournament at the end of the summer where our office competed against other architecture offices in Berlin. There is also a monthly lecture series Sauerbruch Hutton hosts in the evenings which features films and work from other design practices.

What is the first thing you'll tell your classmates upon your return to UT? 

I think I will tell everyone that working in an architecture office is such an invaluable experience. I am hoping that I bring back a lot of what I have learned with me when I return to UT in the Spring!

And if any of my classmates are currently debating working abroad, I absolutely encourage them to do so! It really has been an incredible experience for me.

As you’re finishing up the week, what are your plans for this weekend?

I have a busy weekend ahead! On Saturday, I am taking a day trip to Dessau to visit the Bauhaus school. It’s only an hour and a half away from Berlin by train! And on Sunday, I am going with another Sauerbruch Hutton intern to the Berlin Botanical Garden to see all the Christmas lights on display. It has been so fun watching the seasons change during my time here, and all the winter festivity is a really nice way to end my time in Berlin.