Alumni Spotlight: Ankita Sharma

After completing her architecture degree in 2019, Ankita Sharma joined the buildings group at engineering consultancy Jacobs, contributing to projects ranging from a shipyard in Saudi Arabia to a naval air station in India. She had always planned to pursue a master’s degree, and on the advice of her mentors, spent over three years working in industry to clarify her interests and identify the right next step.

“My interests were shifting toward management and sustainability,” she says. “When I discovered the MEL in High Performance Buildings, it was the exact blend I was looking for – and the one-year timeline was an added selling point. It was the only master’s program I applied to because I knew it was a good fit for me.”

Learning in an integrated, interdisciplinary environment

Mirroring the integrated design practice of leading firms, the MEL in High Performance Buildings brings architects and engineers together to study energy modelling, sustainable design and regenerative development.

Ankita says she thoroughly enjoyed the interactive and dynamic nature of the courses. “I loved how these course were taught. There were a lot of case studies and we frequently did site tours of UBC buildings.”

The regenerative design course stood out for its industry engagement. “Almost every class brought in a specialist from a different background, giving us practical examples, exposure to different kinds of certifications and an understanding of how sustainability is applied in practice in the Lower Mainland.”

On group projects, students worked in interdisciplinary teams, creating even more opportunities to gain new perspectives and learn from people with diverse areas of expertise. “When you study architecture, you are learning alongside people with the same background. Here, there was a mix of people reflective of what you experience in industry where you need to work with and coordinate with people from different backgrounds.“

Designing for the Arctic

For her second capstone project, Ankita worked with three classmates to design a multipurpose building for the Department of National Defence at Canadian Forces Station Alert – the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited location.

“Before this project, the buildings I’d worked on did not have sustainability as a focus,” she says. “This capstone enabled us to apply all the knowledge we’d learned – from energy modelling to material selection – in one of the most challenging climates on earth.”

The team developed a concept design and energy model for a 140 square metre building that included a garage, service room, workstation and small kitchen. They evaluated pitched versus flat roofs, completed a life cycle analysis of embodied carbon, and proposed a building envelope of cross laminated timber for insulation and triple glazed windows.

They also future proofed the building by recommending an adjustable screw jack foundation to accommodate shifting ground conditions — a critical consideration in a warming Arctic. Finally, the group also incorporated Indigenous architectural and design elements to ground the building in its local context.

Building leadership and business confidence

In addition to their core technical courses, MEL students take leadership, strategy and business courses through UBC Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School of Business.

“I learned a lot in the business and management courses,” says Ankita. “My public-speaking and presentation skills improved because you get so much practice doing this in each course. The negotiation module was also excellent – and came in handy when I was negotiating my salary for my job!”

Launching her career

Ankita completed the program at the end of 2023. After attending a UBC careers event and connecting with UBC alumni who were working at Jacobs, she learned about an opening aligned with her interests and applied.

She’s now working as a design specialist in Jacobs’ architectural division, focusing on large infrastructure projects like wastewater treatment plants. The role builds on her previous experience while expanding her exposure to new areas of practice.

Ankita attained her WELL and LEED certifications and is considering pursuing her architectural licence in BC to take on more architectural responsibilities, with sustainability as the foundation of her work.

Reflections on HPB program

“What I liked so much about this program was learning alongside the people you are working with in practice,” she says. “When you’re working on a building, there is constant coordination between HVAC engineers, electrical engineers, structural engineers, architects, consultants and more. It is so helpful to have broader knowledge of these areas to come up with better solutions.”

Another highlight of her experience was pursuing volunteer leadership roles off and on campus. Ankita’s off-campus contributions include serving as a volunteer team lead with the Vancouver Fringe Festival to help coordinate 300 volunteers and volunteering with BC Cancer Foundation as a pit stop captain for the Tour de Cure. She also played a significant role building a sense of community and connection among High Performance Building students. As the vice president of her cohort, she organized a range of get-togethers to promote cohesion – such as meeting up after class for ice cream and having lunch at the beach – in addition to representing her program with other program leaders and MEL staff.