Grad profile: Unlocking architecture's social dimensions

This article is part of a series focusing on the grads of the Dalhousie Class of 2024. Spring Convocation runs from May 21 to 31 in Halifax and Truro. Read all our profiles here in one place as they are published, and for more information visit the Convocation website.

A passion for design is what led Master of Architecture graduate Stavros Kondeas to Dalhousie. Now, as he gets set to graduate, he reflects on the power of the lasting friendships and collaborations he’s formed and how they’ve spurred both academic and professional growth. 

“The most significant highlight of my time at Dal has been getting to know and greatly respect a cohort of people I will invariably share a career with,” he reflects.

Stavros began his academic pursuit at McGill University studying engineering, but fully immersed himself in exploring the multifaceted world of environmental design when enrolled at Dalhousie.

The hands-on experience he gained from the Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (BEDS) program and during his work term with School of Architecture Director and Professor James Forren accentuated his capability to blend theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Offering creative solutions

After completing his BEDS degree, Stavros advanced into Dalhousie’s Master of Architecture program, where he studied under noted professor Susan Fitzgerald, whose ability to integrate research with practice has heavily influenced his work. 

With a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada in 2022, he continued to conduct and coordinate research under Fitzgerald on 'The Hidden Social Dimension of Infrastructure' — a project investigating how urban infrastructure spaces can foster societal, cultural, and environmental exchange. 

“My experiences revealed that professional architects exist within a broader ecosystem of design thinkers able to elucidate complex systems and offer creative solutions to a wide range of problems,” he explains.

A balancing act

Stavros’s strengths lie in his ability to intertwine research, teaching, and practical design. He has contributed to several academic conferences and exhibitions, including the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale with AAHA! and FBM, the 2022 Lisbon Architecture Triennale, and Université de Montréal-led partnership conferences on “Road Maps to Social Equity in Design” and “Barriers to Quality.” 

Reflecting on his experiences, he expresses an overwhelming sense of gratitude and emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between academic work and extracurricular involvement.

Looking ahead, Stavros envisions a career that bridges professional practice and academic research, with aspirations to attain architectural licensure in Québec and eventually pursue a PhD and a university teaching role. 

To aspiring architecture students, Stavros advises maintaining a balance between academic rigor and personal well-being and embracing the collaborative nature of the field.