Burckhardt +Partner and <strong>IAESTE</strong> Switzerland: A Long-term Partnership Sabine Lenz, <strong>IAESTE</strong> Switzerland Above: Team B+P in Lausanne. Photographer: Derek Li Wan Po Left: Kinga with team colleagues from the B+P <strong>of</strong>fice in Bern <strong>IAESTE</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
Employers and Universities The Swiss architecture <strong>of</strong>fice & general planners Burckhardt+Partner has been cooperating with <strong>IAESTE</strong> Switzerland for more than ten <strong>years</strong>, welcoming interns in architecture that come from all over the world. During these <strong>years</strong>, over 40 students were given the chance to gain valuable work experience and deepen their architectural skills. This wonderful longterm collaboration has continuously been developed further. Today, B+P <strong>of</strong>fers <strong>IAESTE</strong> about ten apprenticeship positions all over Switzerland. This successful alliance has led to a sponsoring partnership which was established in 2017. Burckhardt+Partner: Insight <strong>of</strong> the company For more than 65 <strong>years</strong>, Burckhardt+Partner has been showing a holistic approach as an architecture and design construction <strong>of</strong>fice. Our core business focuses on architecture including all facets <strong>of</strong> the construction engineering. Our project development department and our subsidiary <strong>of</strong>fices based in Switzerland (Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich) and elsewhere in Europe (Berlin, Grenzach and Stuttgart) complete the overall <strong>of</strong>fer. More than 3<strong>70</strong> staff and trainees, aged from 17 to <strong>70</strong>, from around 20 nations with over 15 different native languages – altogether shape our corporate culture. We maintain an atmosphere <strong>of</strong> respect, tolerance, openness, commitment and transparency. We pay attention to detail not only in architecture but also in dealing with one another. Especially because we are a large team, we try to match various general conditions with individual employees. We actively encourage discourse between sites, groups and pr<strong>of</strong>essional fields with inter-site advanced training programmes, joint events, excursions and cultural activities. The overall balance must be right – in economic, pr<strong>of</strong>essional and human terms. B+P <strong>of</strong>fice in Zurich (left to right): supervisor Martin and <strong>IAESTE</strong> interns Stavros and Karolina with other team members Visit <strong>of</strong> the <strong>of</strong>fice in Zurich One <strong>of</strong> the Burckhardt+Partner <strong>of</strong>fices is in Zurich, within walking distance <strong>of</strong> the National <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> <strong>IAESTE</strong> Switzerland. This <strong>of</strong>fers a great opportunity for Gaby, our incoming Exchange coordinator, to stop by and meet the supervisors and staff as well as the current interns staying there. The <strong>of</strong>fice is located right in the old city centre <strong>of</strong> the town, a very picturesque work location. In Zurich, 35 employees and our two students, Stavros from Greece and Karolina from Poland, are involved in current projects and competitions supervised by Martin. Thanks to the openness <strong>of</strong> Martin’s team, it is not a problem if the trainee does not speak any German. On the other hand, he appreciates it if the trainees are knowledgeable in the newest programming skills for visualization and drafts, something which also benefits the team during the daily work. Trainee Alexandru Girtan during his internship at B+P in Zurich For Karolina it is not her first architecture internship, but still very different from the one before, as the work here in Switzerland is challenging and already lots <strong>of</strong> responsibility is assigned to her. Nevertheless, Karolina states that she finds this approach very interesting, enhancing her development on a personal and pr<strong>of</strong>essional level. For Stavros, this is his first practical working experience as well as first stay abroad. As he started his internship during winter (which was very long and cold this year), he says that he is now happy that the sunnier and warmer days are back, so he can enjoy his leisure time outdoors after the long working days. Both <strong>of</strong> them are looking forward to experience a fantastic internship and plan to enjoy their stay to the fullest. 37
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