PRP Now! Jess Glennie // Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects

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 mostly recently had the pleasure to speak with Jess Glennie (B.Arch, '15) about her experience:

PRP: I understand that you are currently doing your PRP internship. Where are you working? How long have you been there?
I am currently in New York working for Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. I have been here for almost 6 months…. WOW, time flies when you’re having fun. It has been an incredible experience with great challenges and learning curves. I have enjoyed becoming part of this family and making life-long friends. 

PRP: Currently, what is on your desk? What are you working on?
A computer and all its gadgets, lots of scribbled-on yellow sticky notes, pens, highlighters, exacto, ruler, material samples, plans and sections, a muffin, glass of water, iphone, spoon, bobby pins, 2 jackets, 2 scarves, 2x gloves (it’s COLD today) and a tin of paint. At the moment I am building models for the US Embassy in Mexico, but tomorrow I will be jumping onto a competition team, designing a museum extension, for the last 2-3 weeks of my internship. The competition is in Sydney, Australia which is kind of close to home (NZ) so that’s exciting!!

PRP: What song best describes your work-style?
Anything by Fleetwood Mac or Elton John takes me to my happy place.

PRP: What is the office atmosphere?
Like a large extended family!! We have a chores roster that everyone is part of, and we love chatting in the kitchen and enjoying happy hour. Almost every day someone puts candy/chocolate/treats out on the kitchen counter for everyone to dig into. There are a few comedians in the office. It’s a very inclusive, welcoming and fun environment.

PRP: That sounds good. Are there any unusual traditions? Funny stories?
One project manager likes to ride his scooter in/out of the office – perhaps when he’s in a hurry or when he’s in a good mood and that always makes me giggle. There are a few cool cats who like to email interesting Photoshop collages of people’s heads into other backgrounds... Everyone here enjoys a good laugh.

PRP: What is the first thing you'll tell your classmates upon your return to UT?
TWBTA is such an amazing place – filled with incredibly talented people. I am deeply humbled to be part of this team. PRP has been incredible!! It presents a lot of different kinds of challenges to work through. But that’s the best part - it’s rewarding navigating through these challenges. Now that I’m almost out the other end I am very excited to return for my last semester at UT with more maturity and understanding about where I want to take my future. My time here has really solidified the fact that I want to be in this profession!

PRP: So, as your finishing up the week, what are your plans for this weekend?
I’ll start off by running around Central Park (My favorite thing about the city) and on Saturday night I’m going to dinner at a rooftop bar (apparently we get Harry Potter robes to wear because it’s so cold) and I’d like to go ice skating in Bryant Park. On Sunday night I’m going to watch the Giants vs. the Cowboys!! Throw in some Christmas shopping too.