BUILDING design is an industry where creativity meets technical knowledge, problem-solving and practical thinking, and for the women building their careers at Bruce Mactier Building Designers, there is no shortage of opportunities to learn and grow.
For residential draftsperson Jessica Evans, who joined the firm six months ago, her interest in building design began at a young age.
“When I was younger, I had the opportunity to go on site with my auntie and other women who were a mix of architects and interior designers. From that point, I knew I wanted to do what they were doing,” Jessica said.
“I wanted to make an impact like they did.”
Today, Jessica works as a residential draftsperson, bringing concepts into readable construction drawings and measuring existing conditions to help the team better understand client needs.
One of the things she enjoys most is the opportunity to create something from scratch that will eventually become somebody’s home.
“I get to create something from scratch that will become someone’s home in the future,” she said.
Jessica says collaboration between clients, builders and other professionals is essential to producing quality designs.
For Ami Bhadani, who joined Bruce Mactier three months ago as a residential draftsperson, building design combines her interest in creating spaces with her architectural background.
Ami has a Master of Architecture and says she enjoys seeing ideas develop from a simple concept into something that can be built.
“I also enjoy that not every day is the same as every project is different, and there are always different site conditions, client requirements, and practical challenges to consider,” she said.
Her day-to-day work involves drafting and preparing drawings for different stages of residential projects, following up with senior designers and attending sites to take measurements and understand existing conditions.
Working with experienced senior designers and receiving feedback has helped Ami develop professionally, while her experience working in India and now in Australia has also helped her grow through exposure to Australian work culture.
Ami believes women bring different perspectives, ideas and approaches to the building and design industry, alongside the individual strengths and experiences each person brings.
For young women considering a career in the field, her advice is to be confident in their abilities, ask questions and take on challenges. Jessica shares a similarly positive outlook.
“There is nothing holding you back from being a building designer, because a young woman can do whatever they want to do,” she said.
