Akshat is a Graduate Engineer working in our mechanical engineering team in Singapore. Ever since he was a child, he has been fascinated with problem-solving with Lego or putting a challenging puzzle together. Today, he is helping put some of the most significant infrastructure puzzles together, including sustainable buildings and city-shaping infrastructure.
Akshat’s purpose best aligns with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal is number nine, ‘Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure’. Learn how Arup is helping Akshat create a pathway to his purpose:
What did you study and where?
I studied mechanical engineering at the National University of Singapore and graduated in 2020.
Why did you choose the Arup graduate programme?
I first came across Arup’s graduate programme through my university career portal, and after reading about the projects the firm was working on, it piqued my interest. Arup’s focus on testing the boundaries and creating innovative designs appealed to me. I was keen to work in Singapore’s growing built environment sector, so it felt like the right fit for me.
What do you get up to in your day-to-day role?
Every day in my role, I help bring new building and infrastructure projects to life. My role is to design spaces where people feel comfortable and safe. Ensuring the thermal environment is right, supplying reliable water sources and doing this in new and innovative ways is how I achieve this. Designing buildings and leaving a legacy in a city gives me satisfaction in my role. It’s such a great feeling to complete a project and move on to the next challenge.
What has been your most enjoyable moment / project so far
I’ve been working on a major project involving a train testing centre in Singapore for over twelve months. I was responsible for being the Fire Protection Engineer for the entire project. My team provided me with the guidance I needed and slowly eased me into the role, and now I’m solely responsible for the whole project. I’m proud to have worked on an industry-leading project this early in my career.
What are your future aspirations?
In the future, I want to help solve the biggest challenge our cities need to solve: climate change. I want to help create a built environment that puts people first and is better for the planet. Using new innovations like nature-based solutions and digital tools is something I’m looking forward to tackling next.