{"id":5756,"date":"2021-01-21T12:22:12","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T18:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dunwoody.edu\/news\/?p=5756"},"modified":"2021-01-21T12:49:31","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T18:49:31","slug":"designing-the-structures-he-once-helped-build","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dunwoody.edu\/news\/2021\/designing-the-structures-he-once-helped-build\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing the structures he once helped build"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nathaniel Nelson
Bachelor of Architecture <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Five years ago, Nathaniel Nelson decided to put down the\nhammer and head back to the classroom. It was a decision the long-time\nconstruction worker said made his family happy, and him nervous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, less than one year from graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture<\/a> degree, an impressive GPA, and the professional hours needed to sit for the licensure exam, Nelson knows the change in course was the right call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t a good high school student by any means,\u201d Nelson\nrecalls. \u201cI never felt engaged.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That changed at Dunwoody. \u201cThe instructors genuinely want\nyou to succeed,\u201d he said. \u201cThat makes all the difference. It was a big\nturnaround.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nelson grew up in Tucson, Arizona before his family decided\nto move back to Minnesota 20 years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After high school he worked numerous jobs in the\nconstruction field, racking up 10 years of experience before deciding it was\ntime to explore another career path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interested in becoming a licensed architect, Nelson said his\nfamily and industry connections all recommended he check out Dunwoody. And the\nfive-year path to licensure was a definite selling point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted to build on the experience I gained while in\nconstruction, while doing something that would have more of an impact in my\ncommunity,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cI enjoy working with my hands and building things.\nBut there was something missing. I wanted something more cognitive, where I\ncould make a positive difference.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Dunwoody, the father of three has already found ways to\ndo just that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving back<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Nelson co-founded Dunwoody\u2019s chapter of AIAS Freedom by Design<\/a>, the American Institute of Architecture Students community service program. The program utilizes the talents of architecture students to radically impact the lives of people in their community through modest design and construction solutions. From accessibility modifications to landscaping, emergency plan guides to signage; the program\u2019s priority is to improve the safety, comfort, and dignity of those around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group headed down to Puerto Rico last year to help\nresidents of an island left devastated by Hurricane Maria. During their time\nthere, they completed the Casa Maribel project, which included rebuilding an\noutdoor living space for a local resident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Casa Maribel project. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was only three of us who had ever really built\nanything and 22 on site,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cBut together we made it happen.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an experience that not only brought out Nelson\u2019s\nleadership abilities, but also gave him a glimpse of the type of impact\narchitecture can have on the world.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was really the most fulfilling thing I\u2019ve done in my\nlife,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cFor a little bit of my time, I can really make someone\nelse\u2019s life better. It was a lot of work, but it felt great, and it\u2019s real.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now the Freedom by Design Chapter Director, Nelson said the\ngroup is currently working on a project with the Jerimiah Program in\nMinneapolis.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional\nexperience<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Two weeks after starting at Dunwoody, Nelson attended the\nCollege\u2019s Fall Career Fair and landed an position with VAA Engineering,\nPlanning & Design Services. Nelson ended up working there for two years\nbefore accepting a new job offer at ESG in downtown Minneapolis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of that experience means Nelson has already logged all\nof the hours needed in order to take the licensure exam after graduating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But beyond that, Nelson isn\u2019t set on what area of\narchitecture he wants to focus on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just like architecture. It\u2019s the project that interests\nme. It\u2019s either right or it\u2019s not,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Team work<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

And at Dunwoody, it\u2019s the people who have made the\ndifference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe unsung hero at Dunwoody is the network you build and\nthe comradery you are surrounded by,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m proud of what we\u2019ve all\ndone together, because it\u2019s all team based.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those close connections also made a big difference when the\npandemic forced the College to transition programs to online beginning last\nMarch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve adjusted on the fly, and we\u2019re working through it,\nbut it\u2019s not ideal,\u201d Nelson said, adding how appreciative he was for all of the\nwork the faculty and staff put in to make the transition as smooth as possible.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the challenges of the past months, Nelson is excited\nabout his future in a career he loves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to do what I love every day,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cDuring\nthe past five years, I\u2019ve learned that if you open yourself up and step out of\nyour comfort zone you can accomplish things you never thought possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first enrolled, I thought that by attending a\ntechnical college I would be trained for a job. I thought I would be punching a\nclock somewhere and putting in my nine to five. What I found was so much more.\nI discovered a career \u2013 a profession, a passion, and a purpose.\u201d  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nathaniel NelsonBachelor of Architecture Five years ago, Nathaniel Nelson decided to put down the hammer and head back to the classroom. It was a decision the long-time construction worker said made his family happy, and him nervous. Now, less than one year from graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, an impressive GPA, and the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5759,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[178],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student-news"],"yoast_head":"\nDesigning the structures he once helped build - Dunwoody College News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Five years ago, Nathaniel Nelson decided to put down the hammer and head back to the classroom as a Bachelor of Architecture student at Dunwoody College.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dunwoody.edu\/news\/2021\/designing-the-structures-he-once-helped-build\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Designing the structures he once helped build - 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