Robert Cayer '09

Rob Cayer is a fourth year architect student whose curiosity lies in looking beyond the norms of the architectural practice taught in school. Rob came to Northeastern with an accidental interest in architecture that started with a drafting class that he took in high school. He chose Northeastern because of the city of Boston, the new upstart architecture program, and the co-op experience. Rob is an intelligent designer who often looks beyond the appearance and functionality of the building to take into consideration the finer point of architecture. Rob incorporates views from the owner's perspective, and also the client's perspective when conducting his studio drawings.

VOLUNTEERING: Rob often volunteers his services to the underclassmen. Coming into the college scene as a freshman architect major, he noticed that there was a rough transition into the program. "When I came into architecture, I did not know what to expect. Nobody told me how many hours would need to be put in, or how long the classes would be. It was more of a shock than anything." Because of his experiences, Rob has made an effort to help the underclassmen with their transition giving them helpful pointers on materials they would need, classes they should take, and computers they should buy. He has also volunteered his services to help underclassmen with critiquing their projects and offering suggestions. Rob has volunteered a few times to come into co-op classes to share his co-op experiences with other students.

CO-OP ASSIGNMENTS: Rob attributes many of his achievements to his co-op assignment as a Project Assistant at Brown University Planning, Design and Construction Department. Since Rob has served on two consecutive co-op assignments at Brown, it has really helped him learn the finer points of architecture which is often not taught in the classroom. "There is a lot more to architecture then drawings and presenting. As an architect, you will learn to have to put up with the owners and clients demands, conduct in a lot of research, a lot of budgeting, and a lot of paper work both before and during the construction process. An architect's job is never over until sometime after the construction phase is over. Unfortunately, as an architecture major in college, and even as an intern in an architecture office, you do not get to experience this side of architecture."

At Brown University, Ron engages in project management tasks by working with architects and contractors through the pre-construction phases and construction phases. "Being in the owner's seat rather than the architect's seat gives a different view of architecture. It is a bit different being the critique, as college students are often the ones being critiqued in school." Rob, in only his second co-op, is currently serving as the interim project manager for two landscaping projects for Brown University, and was part of the Peter Green House move. Rob is very pleased with his co-op, believing that he would not get the exposure that he has anywhere else.

FUTURE PLANS AND GOALS: With Rob's experiences in co-op, he hopes to continue to incorporate the project management ideals that he has learned through co-op to his designs in the studio. He feels by doing so, it will give him an advantage after college of knowing a different side of architecture. Although Rob stresses the importance of working in an architecture firm, he feels that his project managment experience has been invaluable, With the experience behind him, Rob will seek out an architecture firm for his third co-op assigment. At the same time, he will continue to help the underclassmen in hopes that they will have a successful transition into the architecture world and the co-op programs. He hopes to one day take his project management experience to a higher level in becoming a principal in his own firm.