An interview with James Rush MCIAT, Associate and Senior Technician

A successful architectural firm comprises a wide range of roles, including Chartered Architectural Technologists, like Wincer Kievenaar’s Senior Technician and Firm Associate, James Rush. With over 30 years of experience in architecture, James holds a true wealth of knowledge, making him a valued leader and a source of guidance and support for our junior team members.

We sat down with James to ask him about his role, his time at Wincer Kienevaar, and what it means to be qualified by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists.

Please introduce yourself

I’m James, an Associate and Senior Technician at Wincer Kievenaar for the last 26 years, and 5 further years in the industry at two other firms before Wincer Kievenaar.

Having been brought up in the construction industry from an early age, I had always wanted to move into this sector of work, where each project is different from the last. The opportunity to meet different clients/consultants/builders every day and work together to provide a building serving its individual requirements gives a sense of achievement every time.

Outside of work, I enjoy cycling, walking, the odd game of golf and generally keeping fit, never sitting down for 5 minutes, as most will know!

You’ve been an integral part of Wincer Kievenaar for 25 years. Looking back at the firm’s evolution over that time, what has been the most rewarding part of growing alongside the practice?

Over the last 26 years, I’ve seen a lot of change in the industry, with regular changes to planning legislation and updates to building regulations. But watching how the office has adapted to these changes and seeing fellow employees come through from an early age to be established members of the practice has been great to see and work alongside.

The varied aspect of the work gives you a great variety of projects to work on, so you could be working on a Grade 2 listed building one day, then the next a contemporary house build incorporating a bespoke design using the latest products available on the market. 

Evolving alongside the practice has meant getting to explore projects that are new to both me and the firm as a whole. A great example of this, which is a piece of work I felt incredibly driven by for the duration of, is an artist studio overlooking the River Stour. This modest building required a heightened level of design rigour to achieve some precise and exacting details using a very limited material palette. 

It really pushed our design approach in an exciting and challenging way. We were tasked with crafting a place of inspiration, designed to complement its natural setting. It’s this kind of project that feels very rewarding to work on as we evolve as a team.

Do you have a particular type of project where you feel you can really utilise your technical expertise?

I have always enjoyed projects that require working on site and fulfilling the role of Contract Administrator. Particularly including the interaction and relationship building between the Builder/Client/Architect. It’s very rewarding to be involved from the initial early stage of the project right through to the completion and handover.

I prefer the slightly trickier projects so I can meet and speak with the team on site, answering ongoing queries and discussing design details. Communication is essential, and gaining an early relationship with the team helps during the construction of any project, giving confidence to all involved.

Some especially rewarding projects I’ve worked on include Monkey Lodge, an award-winning contemporary residential conversion and extension of a grade II listed building, and the alteration and refurbishment of a grade II listed residential dwelling on Bear Street. Working with listed buildings comes with its own challenges that I’m particularly passionate about producing solutions for.

You hold the MCIAT qualification. For those outside the industry, how does the role of Chartered Architectural Technologist differ from a traditional architectural role, and does that speciality benefit Wincer Kievenaar’s clients? 

As a Chartered Architectural Technologist (MCIAT), my role focuses on the technology of building design – ensuring that a project is not only aesthetically pleasing but also buildable, durable, and compliant with all technical regulations. 

Architects often lead with a greater emphasis on conceptual design and spatial aesthetics. I specialise in the “realisation” of that design, bridging the gap between artistic vision and practical construction. Building this connection and helping to push designs further into reality is an incredibly gratifying aspect of my role.

We have a balance at Wincer Kievenaar of fully qualified Architects and Architectural Technicians. This allows an even balance of work and working together when it comes to forward thinking in the design, whilst at the same time ensuring it can be achieved.

You’ve described MCIAT members as the bridge between a design concept and a finished building. How do you balance the science of building performance with the project’s aesthetic vision?

It’s essential that the initial design concept is analysed at the early stage so as to ensure the buildability of a project can be met, but at the same time not dilute the Architect’s vision.

Both the Architect and Technician will discuss the design before it gets to the planning submission stage or is even presented to the client, to ensure it can be practically built in a way that is compliant with regulations and sustainable without affecting the aesthetic intent.

As a technician, you often have to make the art of a design work in the real world. Can you tell us about a project that presented a stubborn technical challenge and how you navigated it?

We recently worked on a residential project that was challenging yet particularly motivating for me as a technician. It comprised a replacement dwelling of two differing architectural styles: a traditional Georgian element married with a striking contemporary glazed linked structure that formed the main feature kitchen, and further accommodation below, which had to be formed on a sloping site with underground springs.

To further add to the project’s challenges, the two sections of the building were at differing angles to suit key vistas from the site; the link incorporated a bespoke feature stair design, swimming pool, and cinema room. Linking the two structures proved to be challenging. A piling design would be required, and a detailed steel-framed lower structure incorporating the contemporary glazed roof structure.

The success of the project was down to working closely with all specialist designers, especially the structural engineer. After many meetings, we achieved solutions that would enable the design to be constructed and formed using mostly rational or traditional methods. 

Early morning meetings with the on-site contracts manager, reviewing the many drawings and details we created, helped iron out potential future issues prior to us constructing certain elements of the works. It’s this kind of collaborative communication that I really enjoy when working on more complex projects.

We met with many suppliers, including a specialist stair designer, window manufacturers, pool specialists, and ironmongery specialists, to name a few, all to ensure each of these elements would meet or exceed expectations and achieve our design and the client’s vision.

Over my years at Wincer Kievenaar, I’ve learned that establishing relationships with your fellow designers at an early stage paves the way for confidence in each other’s abilities. These relationships allow you to create the detailed drawings that the team on site ultimately build from. 

How does your technical approach shift when you’re working on a Design & Build project versus a more traditional RIBA stage-by-stage build?

The answer to this question really depends on what service each project requires and what the client’s scope and requirements of work entail.

With the RIBA stage-by-stage process, we provide a more detailed package that allows for greater design control, the ability to oversee the works and give a little flexibility throughout the project, while ensuring the construction is built as detailed.

The Design & Build route is often required to meet a certain budget, and the programme tends to be based on completing the works in a designated time. This means the design scope becomes a little more limited. So, you work with your employer to achieve a design that is efficient in construction to meet a designated completion date while still complying with all current rules and regulations of the industry.

You’ve become a go-to resource for members of the team looking for help and guidance. What is the one piece of technical advice you find yourself giving most often to the juniors in Wincer Kievenaar?

I always encourage the team here to have an open mind when approaching a problem. The answer is not always in front of you immediately, but do not be afraid to have a go, and if you need to ask the question, do not be afraid to ask.

I think that having worked with several senior colleagues over the years here at Wincer Kievenaar and working with contractors on site, I have learnt to think that everything has an answer, be it right or wrong. You have to explore each question or query raised and design challenges that are put in front of you.

How do you help younger colleagues move from being unsure to trusting their own instincts?

I encourage the team and say that, in time, they will gain self-confidence. It comes from working on their first project and building up their knowledge, to eventually being confident enough to make their own decisions.

Giving someone a pat on the back and a well done goes a long way to show that they are being appreciated for their efforts, even if making mistakes.

Creating an environment for them where they feel comfortable within themselves is essential to developing their skills and learning process, so that they can start to make their own decisions.

Looking back at the projects you’ve supported over the years, what is it about the collaborative atmosphere at Wincer Kievenaar that makes the technical side of the job so rewarding for you?

I’d say the gratification comes from everyone getting involved in each other’s projects: when you have a query about a detail, you can speak to any one person in the office, and they will be willing to assist and help.

Pulling together a drawing package can require several members of the team to work together. This has formed the numerous buildings we have designed and seen built over the years. 

Seeing the final information package come together and the teamwork involved to produce it is so rewarding. When it all comes to life on site, this ultimately gives you satisfaction knowing the initial teamwork has fulfilled the original concept requirements of the scheme itself.

We believe a varied team equals successful architectural projects

We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional services to our clients, and we couldn’t maintain this level of standard without a team boasting specialist roles, diverse industry and educational backgrounds, and a wide spectrum of opinions and insight. 

James, along with the others on our leadership team and our amazing Architects, Architectural Assistants, Senior Technicians and Energy Assessors, are the building blocks of the firm, and our fantastic Practice Manager and Marketing and Office Administrator make everything possible.