Michael Salib (he/him), a fourth-year Architecture student, shares how the architecture curriculum and the co-op program offer students the freedom to explore new cultures and reconnect with their own.
Michael's co-op journey
Work term one: Michael first began his co-op journey in Toronto at SvN Architects + Planners. As an architecture and urban design assistant, Michael created presentation drawings for various building projects in the schematic phase.
Work term two: Wanting to expand his worldviews and build his international network, Michael completed his second work term in Paris, France. At Studio Vincent Eschalier he worked on construction drawings for high-end Parisian renovations.
Work term three: Back in Toronto, Michael accepted a position at Larkin Architect Limited. In a smaller team environment, he was able to work independently on numerous renovations, including healthcare facilities, daycares and churches.
Q&A with Michael
What has been your favourite project that you've worked on?
“When I was at SvN, we were tasked with adding an extension to a ski club. I helped create drawings for members of the ski club to have a look at and give feedback. That was interesting because the drawings had to be captivating to the public to make them want to look and give feedback.”
“I personally like the drawing part of architecture; I think it's fun to create drawings that make people take a closer look. So, that was exciting because my drawings were printed and displayed at the ski club.”
“One of the other cool projects I worked on was a renovation of a historic church, which is located in front of the Architecture Campus. We were tasked with renovating the interior of the church because the congregation was growing and they wanted a more modern space to host different events and activities. That was exciting, especially for me, because I am a person of faith, so I found a lot of value in working on something meaningful to that community.”
What do you love about architecture?
“I think the main thing I love about architecture is the idea that the buildings around us are so connected to the world. They tell stories of history; they tell stories of humanity; they tell stories of culture, of civic life and of public life. Architecture is a manifestation of the beliefs of the society that we live in.”
“But not just that, architecture also helps create values and move societies forward. Right now, I’m taking a course on architecture and power, and architecture and conflict. It's really fascinating how so many capital cities are designed to exert power, to make a statement and to establish that country as a leader. And so, how does that play out spatially? Basically, architecture is the spatial manifestation of so much of what happens in our world — that's what I find so exciting about it.”
“In my program, I find it really interesting that one is allowed to explore what they're interested in. So many of the assignments are open-ended. That can be frustrating, however it also gives you an opportunity to explore whatever you want.”
“I'm from Egypt, and I moved to Canada when I was nine. The architecture program has really been an opportunity for me to look at my roots and research the areas that I come from. There are so many assignments where you choose a site and then do an analysis or a research essay on that site. By choosing sites in Egypt, I've been able to learn more about my culture and my heritage.”
“The last thing I love about the curriculum is the balance of technical and conceptual courses. As architects, we need to be able to collaborate with engineers and consultants to understand the construction industry. We have a lot of courses that allow us to do that, but we also have a lot that allow us to think deeply and push the limits of design. I think both courses combined provide a nice foundation to be able to step into the field.”
Architecture is a manifestation of the beliefs of the society that we live in.
- Michael Salib
What skills have you improved over your work terms?
“I would say the biggest skill is Revit. Revit is a building information modelling (BIM) software, and it's become the industry standard in architecture. It’s very technical and rooted in reality; when you're designing in Revit, you insert a window, but in Rhino—which is the software we use in school—there's no such thing as a window, you have to draw a window yourself which allows you to be more creative.”
“I didn't really know Revit for my first two co-ops, and part of the reason why I went to a small firm for my third co-op was because they were willing to train me. Learning Revit on my last co-op was a great opportunity, and now I’m more comfortable with it.”
“Another skill I learned is visualization. In architecture, visualization involves drawings, diagrams and renders that help people understand and imagine the proposal. The more that you work on it the better you get, so that's something that I've improved on.”
“The other thing is construction drawing and detailing. A building doesn't build itself; there are [architects] that work very tirelessly for many months and sometimes years to put together sets that tell contractors and builders exactly what to do and how every single layer in the building should come together. They're very detailed and they're very long.”
“The set that I was working on for the church was about 60 pages, and that was for a renovation - imagine for a new building! So, creating sets is something else that I have been exposed to and now have experience in.”
Switching gears to your work term in Paris, what was the most rewarding aspect of that experience?
“I think the biggest thing was enjoying time by myself and gaining independence. Knowing that there’s nothing stopping me if I want to go to another city and that I have full control over what to do was a highlight.”
“The traveling experiences were also incredible. On my weekends I made it a priority to explore different destinations, which was so refreshing and fun. Travelling on my own made me develop a lot of self-awareness and maturity.”
“I also made a lot of friends and connections. Having friends and connections on the other side of the world is so meaningful. I still keep up with some of them today. I think it's so cool to be connected to people across the world, especially being in North America where we're very isolated. Canada is very multicultural, however speaking to somebody who isn’t from North America provides you with different perspectives and ways of looking at the world.”
Do you have any advice for students considering a term abroad?
“I encourage anybody who is thinking of doing an international co-op to embark on that journey because it's so amazing. You learn so much, both academically and personally. It's so worthwhile, and it's so incredible that Waterloo gives us the opportunity to travel and get out of our comfort zones.”
“I would also suggest looking into the financial support that Waterloo provides. So much money is invested in students to be able to go on these abroad programs and not a lot of people take the time to investigate and apply to them.”
Where do you see yourself next?
“Right now, I am on an eight-month co-op term. I've decided to split it into two. My first co-op is at TD Bank as a user experience (UX) designer. I've been wanting to explore different fields and the opportunity finally came for me to do so!”
“The reason why we have an eight-month sequence is because part of the architectural program involves spending a semester in Rome. Waterloo has a one-building campus there, so the University gives us eight months to be able to fund that experience. While it is the same cost as local tuition, the traveling and airfare costs can definitely add up. So, we have two co-op terms which will be from January to August, and then in September we head to Rome!”
“I’m currently looking for jobs for the second half of my eight-month co-op. I think I want to do another co-op term abroad in a part of the world that I haven't seen yet. Looking further into post-undergrad, I’m considering different graduate programs, whether that be in architecture or design. I'm not entirely sure exactly what I want to do, but I’m using this time to explore different options and see what I most enjoy.”
