ARCHITECT IN THE MAKING S ophomore Jared Davenport knew he wanted to be an architect before he decided to attend Harding for his undergraduate degree. For him, the Harding experience was worth coming to a school that did not offer his preferred major. Davenport found a home in the interior design program, though, and did not give up on his dream to become an architect. "Interior design is very, very close to architecture," Davenport said. "(Interior designers and architects] work in the same firms, so it could definitely be an advantage. It also allows me to be on the more artistic side of architecture, rather than just the structural side which, I think, in the long run will help me to be a more creative architect." Davenport said he saw many similarities between architecture and interior design. ''Teachers don't just focus on interior design," Davenport said. "Since architecture and interior design are so closely related, it's hard to do one without doing the other. The outside of the building has to correlate with the inside of the building and vice versa." According to Assistant Professor of Art Dr. Sarah Wilhoit, who taught Davenport, it was not uncommon for an architect to study and to be familiar with interior design. She said that studying interior design strengthened Davenport's preparedness because he was able to see buildings in both a macro and micro level. Wilhoit also expressed confidence in Davenport and said that he was an extremely talented student who would excel in whatever field Sophomore Jared Davenport prepares for a career as an architect by studying interior design he pursued. She said that several of her previous students found placement in both design and architecture firms. Davenport said that his architectural aspirations required him to take a few extra classes, such as math courses and physics. After he graduated from Harding, he planned to attend graduate school for architecture. Graduate school would take about three and half years, Davenport said, and then he would be required to take a three-year internship before beginning his professional career. Davenport's friend, sophomore Katie Brewer said she thought his enthusiasm and dedication to his work would make him successful. "He's very passionate about his major and goals," Brewer said. "He absolutely loves what he's doing, whether it's writing about it, sketching it or designing it. He also can't wait to finally have it as a career." He said that there were a few other students who wanted to be architects too. Wilhoit said that a few of them found jobs in some of the top 10 architecture firms in the country. Davenport said he would like to work for an architecture firm doing commercial design, which included business buildings and skyscrapers. He hoped that the creativity encouraged in his design classes would help him with architecture. "You can incorporate your creativeness into the structures that you build," Davenport said. "I really like that aspect of architecture." Lyndsey Ruble Sophomores 1151
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