PRP Now! Adam Williams // Snøhetta

PRP Now! aims to showcase the great experiences students encounter within the Professional Residency Program. PRP offers upper-level architecture students a unique opportunity to expand their education through work experience in the architectural profession. Over the past twenty years, our students have been linked with 260 firms in 29 countries. We will feature a handful of students within each session, graduate and undergrad, domestic and international firms. PRP staff most recently had the pleasure to speak with Adam Williams [M.Arch. '17] about his experience. 

PRP: Tell us about your PRP firm. Where are you working?
 Snøhetta in Oslo, which is locally divided into Oslo (mostly European projects) and Overseas (Asia, Middle East, etc).

PRP:  Do you enjoy the city you’re working in? Favorite aspects?
My experience is skewed as I arrived at arguably the best time of the year, since it isn’t yet cold or dark and people are coming back from July vacation. The best things about Oslo: you’re always walking distance from a major park/forest, great public transportation, considerate and nice people. Most confusing: brunost.

PRP: What is currently on your desk? What are you working on?
 Two monitors, sketchbook, empty coffee cups, broken 3D print. Finishing up a competition for an extension to the San Pellegrino factory in Italy. The office is Rhino heavy, and there are some real Grasshopper wizards here.

PRP: Describe the firm culture? The office atmosphere?
The office is about 120 people divided into 3 sections that encompasses landscape, interior, and vanilla architects, graphic, web, and product designers, technicians, etc. so it really is a full-service firm. People move freely between projects so it can be hard to determine one’s background. Despite being a competitive firm, the office benefits greatly from Scandinavian work/life culture, which respects individual time and needs. Everyone was exceptionally friendly and helpful when I arrived, going out for Friday (sometimes Monday) drinks helps as well. Did I mention daily lunch is provided, from a chef working out of a full kitchen at the office? The massage chair?

PRP: What is the first thing you'll tell your classmates upon your return to UT? 
Ønsker du å spise reker med meg på min båt?

PRP: As you’re finishing up the week, what are your plans for this weekend?
This weekend is the annual hike to the summit of Snohetta, the mountain from which the office gets its name. Norway has a robust system of maintained cabins, and this’ll be my first opportunity to stay in one.  

PRP: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
 Work abroad if you get the chance, and go for it even if you don’t.