Hello, I’m Ryan Sutherland

KZN Dept. of Public Works: Southern Region, Pietermaritzburg

• Led technical architectural reports for government properties, ensuring compliance and establishing standardised templates.
• Managed end-to-end government projects, including Greenfield and adaptive reuse projects, overseeing design and construction documentation.
• Introduced an in-house Revit system, transitioning from AutoCAD and ArchiCAD, improving design accuracy and team productivity.
• Expanded in-house projects from 1 in 2021 to 8 in 2023, acting as principal agent (GCC and NEC3 contracts) and ensuring project delivery within timelines.
• Conducted site meetings, risk mitigation, and tender bid reviews, ensuring alignment with government procurement standards.

Architekton Studio

• Orchestrate the full project lifecycle, from inception brief to construction close-out, delivering residential projects and turnkey solutions.

• Completed 108 minor work partial architectural services projects and 4 full-service turnkey projects, acting as both architect and project manager.
• Managed budgets, schedules, and subcontractors, ensuring quality control and health and safety compliance.
• Produced construction documentation and 3D models using Revit, AutoCAD, and SketchUp, facilitating seamless client and stakeholder communication.
• Conducted site inspections, technical reports, and client consultations, ensuring adherence to building regulations and statutory approvals.

TJ Architects, Durban (Seconded by KZN Dept. of Public Works)

• Produced meticulous technical inspection reports to ensure quality control and snag identification in the completion phase of public institution projects.

• Assisted company leadership in preparing site meeting minutes and vital documentation for a critical Covid-19 quarantine complex within a public hospital expansion project.

• Led efforts to obtain construction permits by engaging with local municipalities, facilitating smooth upgrades for institutional projects.

• Swiftly addressed design challenges and compliance matters for ongoing construction projects, maintaining project timelines.

• Crafted comprehensive bid and tender documents, enhancing project competitiveness and precision.

Remorphed Architecture and Design, Durban (Seconded by KZN Dept. of Public Works)

• Produced project inception and design services on various residential projects ensuring municipal construction permit drawings and orchestrating execution of construction works with consultants and contractor.

• Produced meticulous technical inspection reports to ensure quality control and snag identification in the completion phase of residential projects.

• Assisted company leadership in preparing and running site meetings and vital documentation for to execution of construction works.

• Swiftly addressed design challenges and compliance matters for ongoing institutional construction projects, maintaining project timelines and budgetary constraints.

• Assisting the principal architect on multidisciplinary project team collaboration to produce construction documentation and administration of the building contract as principal agent.

• Produced technical architectural inception reports and inspected government-owned properties.

University of KwaZulu Natal

• Assist the course third-year undergraduate coordinator with developing an architectural design curriculum for undergraduate student’s competency based on studio tutor sessions conducted.

• Marking, moderating and auditing student aptitudes and quality of work and reporting back to the course coordinators.

• Assisting students to resolve technical architectural design challenges and develop academic research skills throughout their design process.

• Academic researching and sharing literature with students to develop individual design skills and become self-sufficient to overcome design challenges.

University of KwaZulu Natal

• Assisted second-year Bachelor of Housing students in coursework tutorials and assignment guidance.

• Collaborated with course coordinators to enhance the undergraduate building technology curriculum by leveraging industry experience and educational drafting resources.

• Contributed to successful pass rates for all participating students while fostering transferable drafting skills applicable in professional contexts.

Paton Taylor Architects

• Led the production of technical construction documentation in collaboration with a multi- disciplinary project team.

• Managed Revit BIM modeling and project technical documentation, working closely with USA- based collaborating design architects.

• Assisted team members and office in transitioning from AutoCAD to Revit during the project’s execution.

• Coordinated local statutory approvals and adapted building design to meet local compliance standards and best practices.

• Played a pivotal role in the development of the first flagship temple and missionary housing for the Church of Latter Day Saints in Africa, contributing to the establishment of a precedent for forthcoming African developments and collaborative initiatives.

• Prepared technical construction documentation and municipal approval applications for ongoing institutional construction projects at leading private schools in KZN.

Architects Collaborative

• Produced urban design hand illustrations and 3D visualizations, along with collecting quantitative research data for rehabilitative conceptual urban design projects in central and rural KwaZulu-Natal.

• Worked under the supervision of an external design architect and academic researcher on primary research data capturing and conceptual design development.

• Contributed to a published project featured in local news media, highlighting design work and 3D modeling for a prominent urban proposal in the city of Durban, which gained significant attention on social media.

Joy Brasler Architects

• Produced technical construction, design, and marketing documentation for upscale residential clients on the KZN North Coast.

• Contributed to multiple projects and firm accolades, earning design excellence recognition from the architect’s board. Achieved coverage in various online and print publications, including home and decor magazines.

• Under the guidance of the principal project architect, conducted site inspections and compiled snag lists to ensure quality standards.
• Offered timely technical design solutions during ongoing construction, aligning with the project’s intended design character.
• Engaged in competitive residential design projects under the guidance of internationally recognized senior architects. Assisted project lead in client design presentations.

Millennium Consortium Architects

• Created technical construction, design, and marketing documentation for prominent commercial property developers in KZN.

• Thrived in high-pressure, finance-driven business environment, contributing to the successful construction of numerous warehouses within the Riverhorse Valley industrial and warehousing hub development.

• Pioneered the introduction of Revit software and oversaw the transition from AutoCAD within the office.

• Conducted site inspections and compiled snag lists under the guidance of the principal project architect to ensure stringent quality standards.

• Collaborated with renowned large-scale architectural firms as implementing architects, translating conceptual designs into construction reality and project completion.

University of KwaZulu-Natal

• The role of architecture in providing physical & social wellbeing for the youth: A proposed youth centre in Wentworth, Durban.

• Coursework: Architecture and urbanism theory, history and design. Advanced architectural design, applied technology, structures, environment, development and professional practice.

National School of Government (NSG)

• Workshop hosted by the KZN department of Public Works for built environment professionals for administering the NEC3 and NEC4 contract in the public sector.

Project Management Institute (PMI) 

• Online fundamental course to prepare for certified associate project manager (CAPM) registration. Prerequisite to obtaining professional project manager (PMP) certification.

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

• Modena Durban Training hosted by UKZN School of Architecture and Modena to train final year architectural students in Revit for professional architectural practice.

KwaZulu-Natal Society of the Arts (KZNSA)

• The purpose of the Local Area Plan (LAP) exhibition was to create a vision and framework to direct the regeneration of the Inner City of eThekwini. The KZNSA had commissioned emerging artists, students, street artists and architects to create visual art in response to the LAP.

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)