Shop | Talk 2025: “A rewarding experience”

Students wish to find work, and architectural practices want to find employees. Making connections can be daunting for both. Shop | Talk 2025 is the second career fair organized by the Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism to make introductions. After the great success enjoyed last year, many participating firms chose to come again.

“Seeing the success last year and the enthusiasm from the staff and the students, and particularly the turnout from everybody, we came away with a really rewarding experience,” says Rick Kellner, of CSV Architects in Ottawa. “We know it’s for the students, but it was really rewarding for us as well.”

This year’s edition on November 6 brought together about 250 students and 23 architecture and design firms at the Architecture Building.

About 50 representatives of firms set themselves up at tables to share information about work possibilities and answer students’ questions. They also presented slides of their work and offices in the rapid format of PechaKucha talks.

The event was open to all the school’s undergraduate and graduate students, but it was specifically organized for those seeking their first co-op placement. Students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet face-to-face with practitioners.

“It was a great opportunity for us to talk to different architects within the field, not just about job opportunities, but current projects the firms are working on and how they conduct their practice,” says Mahee Kaneria, a fourth-year Bachelor of Architectural Studies student.

“It’s good for me to know what’s realistically out there, as well as making connections that could come in handy, if not for a job now, a job later on, or just making a friend in the industry,” she adds.

The professionals, many of them alumni, were keen to help current students find fulfilling work. Laszlo Mohacsi, of Ottawa’s KWC Architects and a graduate of the school, observes that in addition to hiring or supporting the co-op program, the desire is to help students “along the way in thinking about the next stage in their architectural career.”

Here’s what some of this year’s participants had to say about Shop | Talk.

Tara Plett, Diamond Schmitt

“We were here last year, and I was really impressed with the students, their enthusiasm, their questions, and their eagerness to get into the work environment. It was a great experience, and we couldn’t wait to come back.”

Carl Boucher, NEUF

“It’s a great way to meet candidates for our office and keep a strong relationship between NEUF and Carleton. We get to meet potential future employees and help guide them into what’s important for us in our firm.”

André Arseneault, Merrick & Company

“I love it! I knew that if we could get into an architecture-specific career fair, that would help us find the right profile match that we’re looking for. We’re looking to hire architecture students, have a regular relationship with the school of architecture, and introduce what we do to Carleton and their student body.”

Andrew Lee, SOM

“I like the PechaKucha. It’s a great way to give a broad overview of what firms are about, so I appreciate that table setting, and then having the opportunity to talk to the students and engage with them in a more intimate way at the tables.”

Stefan Gingras, Juxta

“We’ve had really good experiences with co-op students. They bring a lot of energy and a new perspective to the office environment and the work, and we would like to get more of them.”

Mohammed al Riffai, Moriyama Teshima Architects

“This is a fantastic opportunity for students to talk to practitioners. It definitely breaks the ice.”

Philippe Doyle, Lalande + Doyle

“Shop Talk is a condensed way to get access to a lot of potential graduates in a very short amount of time and close proximity. It brings everyone together.”

Ksenia Eic, Taylor Architecture Group

“We’re here to give an example of a different kind of company. We want students to remember that there are smaller firms in lesser-known places that often have great opportunities.”

Camille Lewis, CSV Architects

“The PechaKucha presentations are fantastic, especially because so many of us are graduates of Carleton University. It makes it relatable for the students to see the progression and where they could be. It’s also nice for us to see what our peers are doing.”

Thank you to the participants!

Architecture 49, CSV Architects, Diamond Schmitt, DFS Architecture, ERA Architects, Figurr Architects Collective, gh3*, Hobin Architecture, Juxta Architects, KPMB Architects, KWC Architects, Lalande + Doyle Architects, mcCallumSather, Merrick & Company, Minto Group, Moriyama Teshima Architects, NEUF architect(e)s, NORR, Perkins & Will, Provencher_Roy, SOM, Taylor Architecture Group, and Urbantypology.