FIRST PRACTICE ASSESSMENT

Reflective Essay

Reflecting on my full-time work experiences preceding my enrollment at the BAC, I realize how driven I am to learn through curiosity. My non-linear college experiences have greatly impacted my competence and ability to navigate any situation. The journey to becoming a licensed architect and starting my firm is most informed by the atypical experiences in my life. I am dedicated to learning about all aspects of owning and running a business, and I use my leadership opportunities as entrepreneurial "test drives."

Architecture is a way for me to study human experience–spatially–and spend time with the philosophical meaning of structures and space. Through it, I aim to develop much of my work within adaptive reuse. I am most curious about the aging and weathering of materials over time and the ethics of new construction/development.

Student Information

Student Name: Madeline McGloin

Degree Program: B.Arch

Current Practice Title: Fleet & Valet Manager, BMW Service Dept.

Mentor/Employer: Dreyer & Reinbold BMW North

Mentor/Employer Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA

Self Assessment

I rate my current abilities as follows: 4 = outstanding/exemplary; 3 = proficient; 2 = needs improvement; 1 = unsatisfactory; N/A = no opportunity to observe

Design Approach: 3 of 4

- evaluates and solves problems effectively- accesses, learns, and applies theoretical and practical knowledge- brings skills and methodologies from academic work into practice work

Collaboration: 2 of 4

- works effectively with others and manages conflict effectively- helps motivate others to succeed- understands and contributes to organization’s goals- respects diversity and diverse opinions

Communication: 3 of 4

- speaks and writes with clarity, confidence, and concision- makes effective presentations- exhibits good listening and questioning skills

Technical Skills: 2 of 4

- showing positive development with software skills- understands the role different technologies play in design- understands technologies related to the execution of design projects

Professional Development: 3 of 4

- assumes responsibility, sets goals, can multitask- possesses honesty/integrity/personal ethics- shows initiative/self-motivation and good time management- is punctual, has good attitude- is engaged in design culture

At Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in Pennsylvania.

Project 1

AIAS BAC x KIPP Boston [2.16.2024]

Organization: KIPP Academy Boston

Mentor: Allyson Middleton and Jay Galbraith

Type of Project: Youth Involvement

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

My Role on the Project: Visiting "Architect"

Major Competencies, Skills, and Knowledge Learned: Social Interaction & Human-Centered Design, Leadership & Service, Mentoring, Oral Communication & Presentation Delivery

In December, Beth Lundell Garver connected with my AIAS president Allyson Middleton, vice president Kassia Shrum, and myself to discuss an opportunity. She told us about a local school that was looking for architecture students to visit and help with a project of theirs. KIPP Academy's Project-Based Learning Director, Jay Galbraith, helped bring this opportunity to life.

Myself and 5 other AIAS members traveled to KIPP and were split into pairs to speak to three classes of 3rd graders. The 3rd graders are working on a long-term project in which they develop a community center. Through it, they learn how to calculate area and perimeter, and we are lucky enough to expose them to the world of architecture.

The specific classroom that Ayeh and I were partnered with had about 20 students. I started by pulling out hand-drawn plans and sections from past projects of mine, which students could pass around and look at. We asked what kinds of things they noticed in each drawing. We wrote a list of what things are important to architecture in general and answered all of their questions. After that, a lot of kids wanted to trace over my work and practice their drawing skills–they were curious about ways to measure and interpret information.

My role was quite literally to serve as a role model for students and as a resource to answer questions based on my learning and experience. As a professional, I hope to always dedicate a portion of my time and work to mentorship and direct service for students. Because I plan to start a firm one day, I value experiences like this visit to KIPP which change my perspective on how architecture is perceived and how it impacts the world.

Pictured left: Ayeh Aburayyan and I answering student questions.

Pictured above: Hashim Al-Faraj and Allyson Middleton speaking with KIPP students.

KIPP Academy is a charter school that accepts students using a lottery system and is 100% free to students. It serves a diverse set of communities and is known for its antiracist, equitable values.

Pictured above: Evan Diaz and Rodolfo Botteri presenting their interests in architecture.

The project-based learning integrates architecture into the 3rd-grade curriculum to assist with teaching area, perimeter, and square footage. In addition, students are designing a community center as a class and must develop a blueprint for their ideas.

Pictured above: 3rd grade students used vellum to trace over a drawing I brought.

Pictured above: Ayeh Aburayyan listening to a student explain her ideas.

My favorite part about the entire experience was how active they were in taking examples and using what they saw to develop their ideas. It was also heartwarming to hear that they ‘never wanted us to leave.’

Project 2

AIA Indianapolis Holiday Party @ Spohn Associates [12.14.2023]

Organization: AIA Indianapolis

Mentor: Logan Gemmill, Dan Overbey

Type of Project: Professional Development

Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA

My Role on the Project: Attendee

Major Competencies, Skills, and Knowledge Learned: Social Interaction & Human-Centered Design, Interpersonal Skills, Professional/Cultural Organizations

On December 13th, I was on a flight home to Indianapolis to be with my family for winter break. Before boarding, I sent an email to a mysterious contact card listed on the Indy AIA website–the organization was listed as YAF [Young Architects Forum]. My interest in youth involvement in architecture has grown in the past year. I received a response from two members: Logan Gemmill and Shorf Afza. Not only did they tell me more about YAF, but they invited me to a holiday party happening the following evening.

Funny enough, it also happened to be my birthday. I chose to bring my boyfriend with me, and we only planned to stay for a little bit to meet Logan and Shorf. We arrived just after the end of the CE presentation about Unitized Structural Skylights–perhaps for the best. After we arrived, we got nametags and decided to engage with the room of adults to negate the fact that we felt out of place. It quickly became a fun and inviting experience. I met an IPAL advisor from Ball State, a few Browning Day architects, and Logan introduced me to the president of the Indianapolis AIA chapter. Dan Overbey told me that he and President Daas know each other quite well. He even told me that President Daas was once the chairperson of the Department of Architecture at Ball State.

This experience contributed to knowing the architecture world is so small and tightly knit, and it increased my comfort with talking to working professionals. With that, I hope to stay involved with Young Architects Forum in Indianapolis with the time that I spend there, and to integrate it with the projects I work on in Boston within and without the BAC/AIAS.

My role at this holiday party changed after I gathered the courage to engage more with the people there. I began as a wallflower, just observing the action. By leaving my comfort zone and asking questions, I felt connected and developed connections with people I would have otherwise not met. I look forward to attending more AIA events as a young person–not just AIAS events–because the adults hold much of the wisdom we seek as architecture students. They have the personal experiences and stories that make the field more humanized. As a professional, I hope to see events like this as open/fun experiences rather than ultra-corporate and serious.

My Resume

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