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In the Spotlight: Interview with Alin Pal

What is your role at BTP?

Since I joined BTP as a Part I Architectural Assistant a couple years ago, I have mostly been involved in preparing and submitting planning applications for different projects. My role is to support our design teams with modelling and detailing drawings from feasibility to construction stages.

How have you managed during the pandemic?

I think our office responded very well to these difficult times and has remained fully operational. During the initial lockdown, with the support of BTP’s Directors I was able to work remotely from my hometown in Romania.  However, I have now rejoined the team in the UK and it is very much business as usual.

What drew you to BTP in the first place?

Despite the fact that I did not know very much, having not worked at a practice before, I found myself submitting complete planning applications within only couple months. Therefore, working in a small to medium sized practice has given me the experience of a wide range of tasks.

What has been your favourite project at BTP?

My favourite project so far has to be Greenbrow Road in Manchester; a £1.1m development that consists of a four-storey building with 10 self-contained flats and associated under-croft car parking. I was directly involved in producing setting out drawings for the apartment block which falls within Stage 4 (Technical Design) of the RIBA Plan of Work.

If you weren’t an Architect, what would you do?

I think it would have to be something arts related. I had studied Art at School back home for four years and developed a strong passion for freehand drawing, so I would probably make a decent urban sketcher.

However, having spent 3 years at university and 2 years in an architectural office, it has only increased my enthusiasm for becoming an architect.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?
I switched career paths a while back from that of a potential professional footballer to an architect. I had played football for 10 years before studying architecture and the highlight was when I was selected to the U16 Romanian National Football Team for a three-day training session in Bucharest. I also enjoy playing snooker and won a couple friendly game medals at the Crucible during the World Snooker Championship.

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