Designing a Brighter Future: Meet Alumnus Justin Losey

“3D modeling has always been a hobby of mine. It’s something I’ve been doing since I was twelve. It’s always been there, off to the side, and I thought I’d never be able to build that skill into something practical,” said SPSCC alumnus Justin Losey. “At SPSCC, I learned that wasn’t true. That skill was the beginning of my career.”

Justin graduated with his Associate of Science in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Technology (AEC Technology) from SPSCC in 2019. Now, he works as a project designer at Weddermann Architecture where he has worked on a variety of projects ranging from restaurants to residential houses.

“Right out of high school, I wasn’t decided on what field I wanted to work in. I attended university for a year and realized it wasn’t for me. After that, I learned how to bake and did that for almost a decade,” said Justin. “Then I started going back to school. I was attending classes full-time during the day and working full-time shifts during the night.”

Justin was originally interested in earning a transfer degree in engineering, taking two years of math classes in preparation. His plans changed after taking his first AEC Technology class.

“I found the AEC Tech program by chance. I saw a class listed in the schedule and wanted to check it out,” said Justin. “After the first class, it was the first time I thought ‘I want to do this’.”

The Educational & Career Planners in SPSCC’s Advising, Career & Transfer Center (ACT Center) helped Justin pivot in the new direction he wanted to pursue.

“Meeting with them was super helpful,” he said. “They gave me a realistic outlook and clear plan to follow.”

After joining the AEC Tech program in 2017, Justin was able to build a versatile skillset that he continues to use in his job today. One of those skills is working on a team. Throughout the program and especially during his capstone class, Justin worked closely with his peers to simulate working on a team in the field.

“I’m thankful for my team, for having people to look over my work and having that open line of communication. That’s something I picked up at SPSCC,” he said. “The real-world experience absolutely carried over. I have more of an edge when interacting with clients and consultants because I was taught to always have the team in mind.”

“I never made the connection that my hobby of 3D modeling could be applied to a career in the architecture field. I probably would’ve never made that connection if I hadn’t gone to SPSCC,” said Justin. “I’m glad I found a practical application for something I’ve always been passionate about.”