09 April 2025
LWK + PARTNERS at Heriot-Watt University: Shaping the Next Generation of Architectural Thinkers
On 9 April 2025, LWK + PARTNERS proudly joined the final design jury at Heriot-Watt University Dubai for the Year 3, Semester 2 architecture students. Representing the firm were Tala Alnounou, Head of Marketing – MENA, and Mithun Paul Varghese, Director, who were invited as guest jurors to review and critique the students’ work.
This semester, students took on an ambitious and meaningful brief: to design a New School of Architecture for Heriot-Watt University. The project challenged them to integrate innovation, spatial experience, sustainability, and educational programming into a cohesive architectural vision—set against the dynamic context of Dubai.
As a practice committed to advancing architectural education and supporting emerging talent, LWK + PARTNERS sees immense value in initiatives like this. Jury sessions offer a collaborative space to engage critically with young designers, exchanging insights, asking questions, and exploring alternative approaches.
Tala and Mithun brought both industry and interdisciplinary perspectives to the review—emphasizing the importance of design clarity, narrative depth, and the power of architecture to foster community and learning.
We thank Heriot-Watt University and Adjunct Faculty Elli Fragkaki for the invitation and thoughtful curation of the day. Engaging with the next generation of architects not only strengthens academia–practice links but also fuels our shared responsibility to shape a more thoughtful built future.
