A Day in the Life of… Pearl James
In the latest in our regular series, we meet Pearl James, a Senior Architectural Assistant at Lees Associates who joined the team in early 2021. Since then, she has been involved in a range of prime-resi projects in some of London’s most prestigious areas including Knightsbridge, Hyde Park and the Crown Estate. She has also worked on a few commercial projects, including the new Tudor Watch Boutique in Harrods.
What does a typical day look like for you at Lees Associates?
I am the ultimate morning person – my alarm is set for 5am most days! This gives me time to exercise at the gym before work, which has been a major part of my daily routine for about six years now. I try to go five to six mornings a week and do a mixture of weight training and running, with the hopes of competing in a HYROX event later this year. I feel accomplished before I even begin my work day and it automatically puts me in a better mood.
My pre-gym breakfast usually consists of a crumpet with honey and a scoop of pre-workout powder. After working out, I supplement this with a coffee, banana, and protein shake before a quick shower. Then, I catch the train to the office to start the day by 9am.
Every morning, I start my day by catching up on emails and using our project management system, Notion to figure out the priority tasks. Since starting at Lees Associates three years ago, I have worked full-time on a very interesting, complex and highly confidential residential project. As the Senior Architectural Assistant/Job Runner for the project, I am constantly updating the project’s Notion dashboard to ensure all tasks are listed and delegated appropriately and deadlines are set according to the project programme. After determining the priority tasks for the day, I usually have an internal discussion with the Project Principal, James Hall, to ensure we are on the same page, and then get started on the tasks. If necessary, I will brief and help junior members of the team with various tasks and/or assist James in any higher-level actions that may be required.
Pearl catches up with her project team
Several design team meetings and workshops are dedicated to the project weekly. The number of people working on the project and their location across different time zones naturally means that these meetings are held online. James and I also make sure to visit the site once every one to two weeks.
The BIM/CAD software we use for all of our projects at LA is ArchiCAD. We use it to model our projects in 3D, complete project drawings and file associated details. I am responsible for updating this tool with drawing packages and models to reflect correct information. It's the same software that I used when I was living in New Zealand, where I am originally from, which is really handy!
I eat lunch at around 12, and I am usually ravenous by this point! We are never short of good food options, as we are so close to Borough Market, so there is always something new to try. A lot of my hobbies and time away from work revolve around food. My mum and her family are from Thailand, where food is a huge part of the culture and social life. She taught me everything I know about cooking and has shared with me so many family recipes. My family owns and works at Thai restaurants and food stalls in New Zealand and Thailand, so growing up, I was surrounded by amazing food.
Aside from my Architectural Assistant role, I also get involved with helping organise social events for the office, such as Christmas parties and summer days out. It's always a lot of fun to plan, as the options in London are truly endless. Previous office days that I have organised have included a trip to Monopoly Lifesized and a lunch at Circolo Popolare, as well as a canal boat scavenger hunt along Regents Canal followed by a boozy brunch at Bondi Green.
It helps that the team at Lees Associates is very friendly, approachable, and down-to-earth. Since joining the company in lockdown, LA has steadily expanded its team. It's a really nice size, and we all know one another well and, crucially, we all get on!
Pearl recently accompanied LA’s travelling cup to Monaco
What do you enjoy about what you do?
I enjoy working at Lees Associates because no two days are the same. Some days are very ‘drawing-heavy’ and spent on ArchiCAD; some I review other design consultant’s information (Interior Designers, MEP, Structure, AV, Lighting, etc.); other days are more admin-heavy and research-based, and some can be spent on site.
Pearl focused at her desk
What skills have you learned at LA?
One of the most valuable skills that I have learnt at my time at Lees Associates would have to be the amount of problem-solving and foresight required while coordinating other design consultants’ information. Due to the high-net-worth nature of our clientele, their projects are often ambitious, and as a result the quantity of specialist design consultants is often higher and more unique than your typical residential project. I have liaised with the likes of acousticians, bowling alley specialists, sauna specialists and even ice rink consultants to name a few.
Whenever we receive new project information from other designers, my job is to review it, and there are multiple aspects to this review. Not only do I need to fully understand how this information could impact the architecture of the project (i.e. our design), but I then have to consider the possible implications to everyone else's information. With this mindset, I can identify clashes and other issues swiftly, taking any actions required in order to minimise the risk of potential future issues. I admit that I am a very detail-orientated person which helps with this process. It is still quite challenging - especially as there are always unknowns and surprises on site - but knowing that I have played a part in helping solve and prevent potential further problems is one of the more rewarding parts of my role!
What are your plans for the future?
I am working towards my goal of becoming a fully registered UK architect. The experience I am gaining at Lees Associates is certainly leading me in the right direction; I have learnt so much since joining in 2021.
What do you get up to outside of the office?
After work, I typically go out for at least one nice meal with friends and/or my fiancé a week. I also like to host dinner at our flat which usually entails some kind of home-cooked, Thai meal. My go-tos are usually Green Curry (Gaeng Kiew Wan), Thai Chicken Rice (Kao Mun Gai) or Northern Thai Curry Noodles (Khao Soi).
My weekends involve the gym, going for a run/walk in our local park and catching up with friends, if I’m not heading out of London for mini getaways. Currently, I’m spending much of my free time on Pinterest and researching for my upcoming destination wedding in Thailand!