OW Spotlight! Helen Knott

We had the pleasure of catchng up with OW Helen knott, whose creativity David cox architects

How would you describe your Westholme experience? Did you have any favourite subjects/sports/ clubs? 

I truly enjoyed my time at Westholme. I joined in Year 7 in 1996, which feels like it was just yesterday, but in reality, it was a long time ago. When I was at Westholme, it was still an all-girls school, and I absolutely loved it. We had so much fun, spending our time messing around and making each other laugh. I made some close friends, and although it’s getting harder to meet up now due to family commitments, I’m still in touch with them.

I was a bit of a ‘swot’ at school and really enjoyed learning. One of my most memorable experiences was the Public Speaking Competition, which was held for Year 7 and 8 English students, I am not sure if this is still a thing. We each had to give a 15-minute talk on a subject of our choice. The class would select the best speaker from each House to compete in the House competition, and ultimately, the top representative from each House had to perform in front of the entire Year 7 and 8 cohort—at least, that’s what I thought. In Year 8, I was chosen to represent Calder and gave my talk on Ancient Egyptian Mummification. Just days before the competition, we were told it would be held in front of the whole school in the theatre. I was absolutely terrified! Though I didn’t win, it was an incredible experience. For my presentation, I had my friend Jo pretend to be a dead body, and I pulled pretend intestines from her stomach. Mrs. Georgiou and Mrs. Cave’s expressions in the front row were priceless!

My favourite subjects were Art, Maths, and the Sciences. For my A-Levels, I studied Pure Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Art, and General Studies. Art provided a welcome break from the more challenging subjects. It’s funny to think that the Art Department, where I spent so many happy hours, is now the prep school.

I enjoyed PE, though I wasn’t particularly exceptional. I broke my arm in my first year and missed the entire Athletics season, which was disappointing since I was good at running.

I threw myself into as many activities as possible. I was the Sales Director in our Young Enterprise company, earned my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, and perhaps one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences was being part of the backstage team for the school productions. My first production was Jesus Christ Superstar, where I assisted with sound, and I worked all the way through to West Side Story in 2003, where Joanna and I were the backstage managers. Those years spent with such a close-knit group of people are filled with happy memories!

Finally, one thing that always stood out at Westholme was the staff. They were incredibly dedicated, always throwing themselves into whatever we were doing and even willing to make fools of themselves just to entertain us. The House plays at Christmas were always a highlight, and the teachers would even put on their own little performances, which were fabulous! I was asked back to judge one year, and I must say, it was incredibly difficult—everyone did such a fantastic job!

What inspired you to pursue architecture? What did the journey to where you are now look like career-wise?

I really didn’t know what I wanted to do as I grew up—my thoughts changed based on my evolving interests. When I was very young, I wanted to be a dentist for some reason, and then, in my early teenage years, that changed to wanting to be an archaeologist. By the time I was choosing my A-Levels, I found myself much more interested in creative subjects and potential career paths.

I’ve always had an interest in buildings, which I believe I inherited from my parents. My mum’s favourite designer was Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a famous architect from Glasgow who designed the Glasgow School of Art, among many other notable works. I was often taken to Glasgow from a young age to visit these buildings, and it sparked my interest in design and architecture.

I used to rearrange the furniture in my room regularly, but before doing so, I would draw a floor plan to scale and cut out paper models of the furniture to better understand how everything would fit. I now realise that this was a clear indication of my future career path. The usual cliché also applies—I loved (and still do) playing with Lego and building things.

It was during my A-Levels that I realised I could combine my artistic side with my mathematical side by pursuing architecture, so I set off on that path.

My journey to becoming an architect has been a long one! Becoming an architect requires a minimum of seven years of study through the current route. After finishing my A-Levels, I went to Newcastle University to complete my first degree in Architecture, known as Part 1. I chose Newcastle because I liked the course structure, the studio environment, and the city itself. I graduated with a BA(Hons) in Architectural Studies in 2006. Following that, I spent a year working at a practice in Bolton called Bradshaw Gass & Hope, which is a required step. I worked on a variety of projects, including fire stations, schools, and civic buildings.

Next, I returned to university to complete my second degree. This time, I went to the Manchester School of Architecture, as I wanted to commute from my home in Blackburn. I graduated with a BArch in Architecture in 2009. Afterward, I returned to Bradshaw Gass & Hope to continue working while preparing for my Part 3 exam, the final step toward becoming a fully qualified architect. The Part 3 exam involves working while studying, culminating in a two-day exam with an interview. It’s a very involved process, but incredibly rewarding once the seven years of study are behind you. I qualified as an architect in 2010.

My career has had its ups and downs, mainly due to poor management at certain points. After working at BGH for six years, I changed jobs in 2013 and moved to a firm in Manchester. However, this didn’t last long as their primary client was Aldi. After two and a half years of designing Aldi car parks, I couldn’t continue in that direction, so I moved to a practice in Preston. In 2017, I had the opportunity to join David Cox Architects (DCA), and that’s where I’ve been ever since. I love working at DCA—the people are fantastic, and my bosses are incredible. After six years with the firm, I was asked to become an Associate, which was completely unexpected but something I am incredibly grateful for.

What do you enjoy most about your job? What does a ‘day-in-the-life’ look like? 

I think what I like the most about my job is that no two days are the same. We work on a variety of projects which have different requirements and so no two projects are the same. This is great if, like me, you don’t like doing the same things over and over again. We are governed by planning requirements and Building Regulations, but these do not restrict our creativity and the options we have for each project. I work on a wide variety of projects, since joining DCA I have worked on Student Accommodation, High Rise Residential developments, one-off houses, industrial buildings, leisure buildings and probably my most proud achievement, designed the Preston sign which has been on display in Preston for the last 3 years.

At DCA, we believe that the client is the most important member of the design team and that we will produce schemes which respond to the site, the project brief and the client’s wishes. We do not have a ‘style’ which we repeat for each project.

Being an architect requires effective communication skills. You need to engage with clients, other consultants, the public, and network with other professionals. While good creative and design skills are essential, this doesn’t mean you need to be a world-class artist. Problem-solving skills are also crucial. I often feel like I’m playing a game of Tetris, trying to fit spaces within a defined area. Computer skills are indispensable; we use 3D BIM (Building Information Modelling) software to draft our designs and Adobe programs to present them.

A typical day starts with checking my emails to see if there are any important messages from clients or consultants that require immediate attention. Once that’s sorted, I focus on the current project I’m working on. At the moment, I’m involved in a large leisure building project in Lancashire, which has received planning approval. We’re now preparing the construction drawings for the builders to use. It’s a large project, so we’re working with a variety of other consultants, including structural engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers, fire engineers, and interior designers. As the lead designer, my role involves coordinating with these other consultants, ensuring they are actively working on the project, and making sure their information aligns with ours.

Throughout the day, I receive emails that require responses. Since I typically juggle multiple projects at once, this means switching between tasks to respond to different queries. Sometimes I need to chase people for information or provide details to others. There are also many deadlines tied to the project schedule, so it’s crucial to ensure we’re meeting those milestones. Projects can take years to complete, and we may be working on one for a long time before it’s built.

Therefore, my typical day involves sitting at a computer designing buildings in 3D.

What have you been up to since leaving Westholme?

Since leaving Westholme, I focused primarily on my studies and became a registered architect in 2010, at the age of 26. I got married in 2016, and my husband and I spent our honeymoon in Japan and Hong Kong, which were both fantastic experiences! We now live in Preston and have two young boys, aged 7 and 4, who certainly keep me busy.

In 2024, I challenged myself to complete the Great North Run, just a month before my 40th birthday, after having taken part in it 10 years ago. It was a rewarding experience, even though we got soaked at the starting line and I didn’t quite hit the time I’d hoped for.

In my spare time, you can often find me indulging in some sort of craft hobby, whether that’s cross-stitch, sewing, baking, or playing computer games with my husband.

Any advice for current students here at Westholme? 

Don’t take yourself too seriously! Life is too short to worry about what others think of you. If there’s something you want to do, go for it—otherwise, you’ll only regret not taking the chance later.

Seize every opportunity to get involved in clubs, societies, sports, and challenges.

Choose subjects that genuinely interest you and pursue a career that excites and motivates you.

Be kind to everyone you meet. You never know what someone might be going through in their personal life.

Keep in touch with those from school. You have the best memories together.

Be happy!