Laia Carpena

"A big part of my job is to communicate my design decisions to clients/architects. I also enjoy training my peers on new software and visual programming to make sure that we all have the tools to deliver an efficient design."

"I focus on modelling building services (pipes, ducts, equipment) in 3D and coordinate them to make sure they can be installed (basically that they fit in the building!). Sometimes my job can be described as solving a big spaghetti puzzle! :)This also involves speaking with other engineering disciplines and architects and agree on the best way of solving coordination issues.I also dedicate some of my time to learn new software packages and to study how they can be implemented in our day-to-day job to make our processes more efficient, and then I help my peers implementing those new processes into their projects."

"I studied in my home city, Barcelona. I did a degree on Building Engineering. I started working there as a 3D modeller for a few years and then I found an engineering job in the UK so I moved to the South West.At the time I did not know that there is an apprenticeship route that allows you to work in industry whilst studying for your degree (and getting your degree funded by your employer), otherwise I would have definitely applied for that!"

"My favourite thing to do is to go to the beach when I am at home! When that is not possible, I also enjoy hiking. Also solving puzzles helps me relax!"

"Building services engineering consists of making building habitable: making sure they're not too hot/cold, that there's water going through the taps, that the air is fresh, smoke gets extracted, fire sprinklers are working...We look at regulations to know how to treat our buildings, and then size the right equipment, pipe sizes, duct sizes to achieve those conditions."

"Degree in Building Engineering."