Krysia Bussiere didn’t have to wait until she graduated for her education in the Visual Arts and the Built Environment program to land her a job. She has a summer position in Toronto working with B+H Architects, the design firm behind the Centre for Engineering Innovation.

When she crosses the stage at Thursday’s Convocation, Bussiere will be among the first class to graduate from the program. She says it has given her a good foundation to build on.

“I am just starting out, but even now I am applying skills I learned in my classes,” she says. “I am working in AutoCAD (a drafting program) and with contract documents.”

After graduating with a three-year general degree, Bussiere and her classmates will take one year of courses at the University of Detroit-Mercy to earn a B.Sc. in architecture. She plans to complete co-op placements to pursue a career as a licensed architect.

Her current opportunity working with B+H arose because professor Veronika Mogyorody, the program’s coordinator, had contacts through the CEI project.

“A principal of the firm critiqued some of our projects,” Bussiere says. “I guess I did pretty well.”

She says that it was fun to be part of the program’s inaugural class.

“Everyone around us was so excited,” she says. “Because we were the first, the faculty was very open to our suggestions and input.”

Bussiere says the experience formed some of her best friendships.

“Just being in a studio setting is unique. You work together so much,” she says. “You become so close to everybody.”

Learn more about Visual Arts and the Built Environment on the program’s Web site.