{"id":16523,"date":"2025-03-17T20:01:12","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T20:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arquitectonica.com\/architecture\/?p=16523"},"modified":"2025-03-17T20:06:57","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T20:06:57","slug":"11-leaders-of-arquitectonica-with-jacqueline-beckingham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arquitectonica.com\/architecture\/11-leaders-of-arquitectonica-with-jacqueline-beckingham\/","title":{"rendered":"1:1 Leaders of Arquitectonica with Jacqueline Beckingham"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jacqueline Beckingham, Los Angeles Office Director<\/div>
The series 1:1 Leaders of Arquitectonica highlights individuals throughout Arquitectonica's global offices making waves in architecture and design. Join us regularly as we showcase their career paths design philosophies and the role of architecture shaping our world. We sat down with our Los Angeles Office Director Jacqueline Beckingham to chat about her journey and vision for the built environment. Enjoy the delightful Q&A we luckily had the chance to share with Jacqueline.<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

Do you recall your first memory interacting with architecture ?<\/h2>Architecture has been a lifelong fascination. I still remember running around university campus on Bring Your Daughter to Work Day at Leeds in the North of England with my dad. I remember the heavy concrete buildings with sort of connecting skywalk bridges and just loving everything about it. Seeing student housing and the whole campus I was infatuated with the whole aspect of how you can create this different environment through architecture and design.<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

Your career spans multiple countries and continents. How has this shaped your approach?<\/h2>I grew up in a small city in the north of England, which was far from cosmopolitan. Attending university in Dallas and later moving to London in the 1990s\u2014at the height of Britpop and an exciting era for design\u2014was eye-opening. I worked on projects across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, which pushed me to think globally about design's cultural and social impact. Now, in Los Angeles, I bring those lessons into my work, balancing international insights with local nuances.<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

What\u2019s a recent Arquitectonica project that excites you?<\/h2>One of the most exciting projects I\u2019ve worked on is in Jinju, South Korea, where we\u2019re collaborating with Shinsegae. It\u2019s a unique mix of a bus terminal integrated with retail, leisure, and residential spaces, forming a main component of a larger master plan. It\u2019s a fantastic example of how thoughtful design can bring vibrancy to a city by addressing multiple urban needs in a cohesive way.<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]
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Sunset Boulevard Residences, Los Angeles<\/h2><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

What skill have you thought to be most valuable in your career as an architect?<\/h2>I always think that an architect is like the conductor of an orchestra. We need to manage multiple moving parts while maintaining the overall vision. Communication is key\u2014both internally with our teams and externally with clients. As I\u2019ve gained experience, I\u2019ve become more comfortable navigating those challenges.<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

What excites you most about your work right now?<\/h2>I love the design process\u2014the opportunity to start with a blank site and create something that enhances the environment. Recently, I\u2019ve been inspired by our younger staff. They bring fresh ideas and a willingness to experiment. That exchange of perspectives is incredibly energizing.<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

How is technology reshaping architectural practice, and how does it impact your approach at Arquitectonica?<\/h2>Technology has completely transformed how we design and communicate our ideas. Our younger team members bring incredible skills in 3D modeling and animation, which allow us to present designs to clients in ways that are more dynamic and tangible than ever before. This ability to visualize concepts so vividly is a game-changer for the design process. ,,However, there\u2019s still an important balance to maintain. While technology opens new doors, there are moments\u2014like sketching an idea in real-time for a client\u2014where the simplicity of a pen and paper still matters. I always tell our team, don\u2019t worry about what your sketches look like- the more you do it the better they will look.<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

What\u2019s next for Arquitectonica\u2019s LA office?<\/h2>Culver City is an inspiring place to work, full of creative energy. Our studio is expanding, and we\u2019re thrilled to welcome two new hires in January. We\u2019re also working on realizing key projects, including the Sunset Boulevard development. My goal is to strengthen our presence in Los Angeles and continue building projects that reflect the city\u2019s diversity.<\/div><\/div>

What advice would you give to aspiring architects that you wish you had been told yourself?<\/h2>Be patient and listen. When I was starting out, I was eager to jump into conversations, but I\u2019ve learned the value of hearing other perspectives first. And don\u2019t keep your ideas to yourself\u2014they\u2019re not as unique as you think, but they\u2019ll never come to life if they stay in your head.<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″]
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Sunset Boulevard Residences, Los Angeles<\/h2><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]