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KIM NEWELL, ASSOCIATE, PARAGON ARCHITECTS Kim Newell was recently appointed as Associate at Paragon Architects. “In terms of my professional career, it gives me the opportunity to grow further and contribute towards growth at Paragon,” she says. Kim finished her Master’s degree in architecture in 2013, after which she joined a small private practice working on museum and exhibition projects. “I have always been creative,” she says. “From a young age, I have always made things and created art. Architecture was a natural choice of career because it allows me to channel my creativity into creating buildings.” She joined Paragon Architects in 2015, working with the team for 11 Alice Lane Phase 3. “After Alice Lane was complete, I was the project architect for 37 Commerce Crescent, a conversion of an industrial building into warehouse space,” she says. “I have worked on various projects at Paragon, including retail, office and residential architecture.” Kim is currently working on the renovation of 105 Corlett Drive for Balwin’s new head office and a new office building in Appolonia City in Ghana. Kim reflects how fortunate she is to work at an architectural firm that prioritises gender parity. “There are strong women in the team who choose to build each other up rather than break each other down,” she says. “This is not always the case in the construction industry. “We need to support young women who chose a career within the construction industry and help them to grow their careers.”
33 Fricker Road, Illovo, Johannesburg Email: info@paragon.co.za Tel: +27 (0)11 482 3781
ANTOINETTE KLOPPERS, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, PARAGON ARCHITECTS Newly-appointed Senior Associate Antoinette Kloppers believes that architects have a “responsibility to shape and influence people’s experiences for the better”. She graduated in 2005 from the University of Pretoria, and joined Paragon Architects in 2013. Her professional experience includes a wide variety of architectural projects, including educational, office, retail, residential, industrial and student housing. She developed a keen interest in regulations and construction law and was offered the role of Head of Building Regulations in 2016. She also offers CPDaccredited workshops on building regulations and accessible architecture. A notable achievement for Antoinette is that, after five years of balancing work, family life and studying, she has completed her studies with the Association of Arbitrators and is now qualified as an arbitrator. The design of an all-inclusive environment is something she feels very passionate about. Her daughter has a hearing impairment, and she enthusiastically promotes the awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities. “The industry, and the world for that matter, need to recognise the diversity of human beings,” she says. “We need to provide an inclusive environment where we all can refine and be compensated for our own unique skills on an equitable basis.”
KIRSTIN CAVANAGH, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, PARAGON INTERFACE ARCHITECTS Kirstin Cavanagh studied architecture at Wits University, completing her Master’s degree in 2009, and began working at Paragon Interface in 2010. She was drawn to the interior realm of architecture by her fascination with how people use space, and how good design can influence and improve people’s behaviour. She has worked in project teams on large projects such as ABSA Towers West and Alexander Forbes’ head office in Sandton. She has also been responsible for designing and implementing office fit-outs in a variety of countries throughout the rest of Africa. Kirstin is currently focused on running a number of smaller projects, ranging in size from 300m2 to 10 000m2 and including offices, schools and showrooms. She believes that interior architects are privileged to be exposed to
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the inner workings and culture of many different industries and businesses, and have a responsibility to share their knowledge with clients to help optimise their companies’ functioning through highperformance workplace design. “As a woman working in the construction industry, one often finds oneself in a room filled with professionals and contractors, and yet you may be the only woman present,” she says. “Perhaps we have to speak a little louder to be heard and display a little more confidence to be taken seriously, but what I have seen emerge as a result is a good number of strong and brilliant women.” On her recent appointment as senior associate, Kirstin says, “It confirms that one can continue to progress in a career and establish a family simultaneously – something that I was afraid would not be possible for me when I became a parent two years ago.”
