Rising star in the building design industry

Diploma of Building Design (CPP50911) student Lina Ritonga has been awarded the 2022 TAFE Queensland Gold Coast Outstanding Student of the Year and and Built Environment Student of the Year at her graduation ceremony.

Lina was one of two students from her Building Design cohort, brave enough to enter the Student Building Design (BDQ’s) of the Year for 2022 and won. This prestigious event held at HOTA on the Gold Coast, showcased her winning design ‘ATRIA’- a mixed-use commercial artisan shopping precinct. The recognition this design received was instant, as she had several industry leading Building Designers approach her for employment. She secured a job with FócL, a boutique Building and Design collective at Burleigh and commenced work while consecutively finishing her qualification.    

“I have been fortunate to gain an opportunity with Focl Design, where I am currently working on concept for some exciting Residential and Commercial projects,” Miss Ritonga said.

“It was an honour to win the Student Building Design (BDQ’s) of the Year in 2022, while studying at TAFE Queensland,” she said.

“The BDQ Awards was a great experience that allowed me to build connections and gain insights into some amazing projects in the industry.”

TAFE Queensland’s Building and Interior Design teacher Rachael Dempsey said Lina is such a deserving recipient of the TAFE Queensland Gold Coast outstanding student of the year award.  Lina is a hard-working student with a strong work ethic, ‘can do’ attitude and is committed to her learning.

“It’s a delight to teach a student like Lina who has a drive for continual self-improvement, which ultimately inspired all of her peers to do the best they can,” Mrs Dempsey said.

Lina said completing the Building Design Diploma has been a great learning experience, that has challenged her and built her confidence that she can succeed. 

“My time at TAFE Queensland has allowed me to develop practical skills that are crucial in the industry,” Lina said.

“My favourite part of the Diploma would be the connections I have made with my talented peers,” she said.

“The most important quality a building designer needs to embody and develop is creativity, which our teachers encouraged and nurtured.”

Lina said she believes that creativity is what sets every designer a part in showcasing their own way of design thinking and problem solving. I have always had an affinity towards the creative industry especially in architecture.

“Building design allows me to use a combination of design disciplines and create structures which bring people and space together.”

“The teachers were fabulous, they have been very supportive and dedicated to imparting the skills we needed to succeed.”

“I appreciate the teachers have also helped prepare us for industry with the latest trends, ideas and contemporary practices,” she said.