16 Jun

A KPF Director’s Honest Advice for Young Architects

What does it really take to build a long-term architecture career inside a global practice?

Stephen Drew speaks with Francesco Casella, Director at KPF, about career growth, working at scale, and what young architecture professionals can learn from staying, developing and leading inside one major studio.

The conversation covers:

How to get hired by large architecture practices
What helps Part 2s, Part 3s and early-career designers stand out
The value of staying with one firm and building trust over time
CAD, BIM, design judgement and how technology is changing practice
AI, global projects and the skills that still matter in architecture

Guest: Francesco Casella, Director at KPF

KPF: kpf.com

Read the episode notes: A KPF Director's Honest Advice for Young Architects

Watch on YouTube: A KPF Director's Honest Advice for Young Architects

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Chapters

00:00 Francesco Casella, KPF and the episode context
05:27 Getting a first architecture role in London
10:18 Joining KPF and building a long-term route
15:01 Promotion, progression and changing firms
20:24 Teams, collaboration and leadership
26:50 BIM, technology and AI
30:23 Interviews, hiring and what candidates should show
36:36 Recruitment, judgement and understanding the profession
40:59 The rewards and pressure of architecture
46:21 Why architecture still feels worth it

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