Student Work Experience Spotlight – Ethan Thomas

Social Media Image

Student Work Experience Spotlight – Ethan Thomas

Over the past four weeks, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting architecture student Ethan Thomas in our studio. During his time with us, Ethan has been immersing himself in our projects and culture — and he’s shared some thoughtful reflections on his experience below.

We are passionate about nurturing the next generation of designers through hands-on learning, mentorship, and open knowledge sharing. Supporting life-long learning is at the heart of what we do.

Thanks for your great work, Ethan — we wish you all the best in your studies! 👏

Big thanks too to Bouygues for facilitating Ethan’s site visit to Carmarthen Hwb

Student Work Experience Spotlight – Ethan Thomas

“Since undertaking work experience at Austin-Smith:Lord, I have found it to be incredibly beneficial to my development as an architecture student. The experience has provided me with valuable insight into real-world practice, particularly in the way design is approached within the industry. I’ve learned to place greater emphasis on spatial planning and functionality, adopting a more pragmatic and realistic perspective that complements my academic learning.

I was given the opportunity to work on a live brief – designing a student accommodation scheme for a site the firm had previously been involved with. I also had the chance to attend conference meetings with teams from different studios across the UK, which gave me a broader understanding of the scale and diversity of projects the practice undertakes.

A particular highlight of my experience was a site visit to the Carmarthen Hwb project. Seeing a live project under construction was invaluable, allowing me to better understand how design decisions translate into real-world outcomes.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at ASL. The team was incredibly welcoming, supportive, and generous with their knowledge. This experience has been instrumental at this stage of my architectural journey, and I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity. It has enriched my understanding of the profession and inspired me further in my studies.”