A Day in the Life: Jake Goodger
Senior Architectural Assistant (and soon-to-be Architect) Jake Goodger joined LA London in early 2024 after moving to the UK from his home country of New Zealand the previous year. Jake has a Master’s in Architecture from Victoria University of Wellington and is currently studying for his RIBA Part 3 qualification at the University of Westminster to become a registered and chartered architect. At LA London, Jake oversees residential projects in prime central London and the home counties.
In the latest instalment of our ‘A Day in the Life’ series, Jake talks us through a typical working day at LA London, from his morning gym session to BIM modelling, site visits and study.
Starting the day
A morning gym session
My mornings usually begin with some movement and exercise. I’m fortunate to live in a beautiful part of northeast London, close to Regent’s Canal and not far from Victoria Park. This morning started with a gym class before heading home for a quick shower and coffee.
I cycle into work whenever possible, especially now given the incredible summer weather. With New Zealand being 11 hours ahead, the ride in is a perfect time to for a call back home to catch up with friends or family. I usually get to the office around 8:30am and start the day with coffee number two while checking emails, setting tasks for the day on our project management platform, Notion, and checking in with other LA team members.
Design Development / Documentation
One of the most exciting projects I’m currently working on is a new-build entertainment space and guest accommodation on a private estate in Berkshire. Following the recent kick-off meeting on site, this morning I’ve jumped into setting up our BIM model, importing the survey data, establishing project levels, and conducting a thorough review of the previously-consented planning documents. Getting this part right early on in a project is crucial, especially when coordinating with external consultants across various disciplines.
We use ArchiCAD in the office, which I find to be a great design tool, having used various software packages over the years. It allows for intuitive modelling while maintaining technical precision and coordination, with support for both IFC and Revit formats. I find it especially useful for quickly testing ideas in 3D while keeping the wider team aligned through its collaborative Teamwork function.
Lunch
I like to get out of the office when I can to stretch my legs or pick up some lunch. Our studio in Southwark is close to the River Thames and Borough Market, so there’s no shortage of good spots to explore. A quick stroll through the market or along the river usually does the trick and helps me reset for the afternoon.
On site at LA London’s Kensington project
Site Visit / Technical Review
Another of my ongoing projects is the full refurbishment and basement extension of a five-storey town house in Kensington, which is in the early construction phase. Today, we had a monthly site meeting to review progress. Much of the excavation and underpinning for the new basement is now complete.
After the meeting, I walked the site with the contractor to observe progress and clarify a few site queries. I really enjoy being on site as it starts to bring months of design work to life. So much of our day-to-day work happens behind a screen, so it’s refreshing, and often more productive, to walk a site with the contractor and design team and resolve things in real time.
Wrapping up
Back at the office, I try to wrap up the day with some focused work, headphones on, completing notes from the day, and lining up tasks for tomorrow. I like having a clear plan in place before I log off for the afternoon so I can hit the ground running the next morning.
Touch rugby after work
After work, it’s back on the bike heading to play touch rugby over at Regent’s Park. This is always a highlight of the week and a great way to blow off steam and catch up with friends mid-week. We usually stick around afterwards for a beer in the sun, which has become a bit of a ritual. It’s a nice way to decompress after a full-on day and to split up the working week.
Alongside my work at LA London, I’m currently studying for my RIBA Part III qualification at the University of Westminster so I can register as an architect in the UK. Most evenings lately are spent chipping away at my case study and prepping for an upcoming law exam. Balancing work and study has been a challenge at times, but I’ve really appreciated the support of the LA team. It’s a milestone I’ve been working towards for a while now, and it’s exciting to see it starting to come together.
Outside of work
Outside of office hours, a lot of my spare time is spent exploring new parts of the UK, or heading further afield into Europe when I can. I’ve been trying to make the most of the warmer weather with weekend hikes, and a recent highlight was the Blackdown Temple of the Winds trail near Haslemere in Sussex – highly recommend. Next on the cards in a few week’s time is a summer van trip along Norway’s southwestern coast to explore some of the mountains and fjords.