Laura Cruickshank, Architectural Assistant

Laura is a Part I Architectural Assistant currently completing her placement at RKA Architecture and Design Studio during her year out from the University of Dundee, where she earned a BArch with Distinction. She previously graduated with First-Class Honours from the University of Glasgow, where she pursued a joint degree in Film and TV Studies and Theatre Studies.

During her studies at the University of Dundee, Laura received the NORR Best First Year Student Prize and was awarded a Certificate of Merit in her third year. Her thesis, “A Historical Analysis of the Column: From Order to Dis-order,” explored the gradual subversion of the column over time while highlighting its enduring structural and symbolic power. By analyzing buildings such as the Kolumba Museum and the Baumschulenweg Crematorium, her research emphasized the column’s lasting influence despite centuries of adaptation and disruption.

This strong academic foundation has paved the way for Laura’s hands-on experience at RKA, where she is honing her design skills and enjoying actively contributing to a diverse array of projects.