Position: Project manager, Advisory and prestudy department in Statsbygg
Education: Master of Architecture

- A bit like coming home 

Ane Ryttervoll Kvamshagen is motivated by working on projects of societal importance and impact Although it is 15 years since she graduated as an architect, she still has a strong affinity for NTNU and Trondheim. 

When Ane Ryttervoll Kvamshagen graduated as an architect in 2005, there had been high unemployment in the previous years among recent graduated students. But she was lucky and got a job in the consulting engineering and architectural firm Asplan Viak.
 - Life is full of coincidences, she says, and tells how her way into the labour market went so smoothly: 
- When I was looking for a summer job in 2004, I discovered that one of Asplan Viak's department managers had been an examiner for an oral exam that went very well. I called and hoped she would remember me. She did, and I was lucky because they needed someone to help them with an architectural competition. The following year they also needed me, and I got a permanent job just after I graduated, says Kvamshagen.

Public sector not less busy

She worked at Asplan Viak until 2018, when she moved to Statsbygg where she currently holds a position as chief architect and manages several projects. Statsbygg owns and builds purpose buildings that is, buildings used by state-owned enterprises; everything from prisons to child welfare institutions, cultural institutions, courthouses and university and college buildings.
-  How does a normal working day look like for you?
- The state employs 10 per cent of the workforce, it is important that the employees have appropriate and functional premises. Location analysis, where I investigate where it is most appropriate for a public sector enterprise to be located, is an example of an important job in my department. Currently I am also working a lot with campus development, such as for Volda University College and the University of Stavanger.
-This is no holiday. Some thought I started working in the public sector because it was going to less busy, but that turned out to be a myth, she adds, laughing.

"Kill your darlings"

"Kill your darlings" said one of the Ane Ryttervoll Kvamshagen’s professors. In doing so, he urged students not to  get stuck in  the familiar habits , but to be critical, investigative and open to new solutions.
This mindset has been with her throughout life. Being critical, investigative, and inquisitive, is what Kvamshagen highlights as the most important knowledge she has brought with her from the architectural studies at NTNU.
- Sometimes it is best to throw out the old ideas. We learned how to scrutinize, not take anything for granted, but be daring. Such a way of thinking awakens innovation, says Kvamshagen.

Met many like-minded people at NTNU

Then she talks about the sense of belonging, that coming to NTNU and Trondheim as a 20-year-old was a bit like coming home.
- I came to a place with many like-minded people, it was a great experience. I still feel affinity to Trondheim today. I was keen on making friends outside of the architectural studies, so my identity is more related to NTNU than the course itself, says Kvamshagen, who among other things made new friends y playing in the student orchestra.
As she did a job exchange at an architectural firm in Ireland through The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), her studies extended with six months.
- It was a small office and it wasn’t a particular benefit professionally. But it was incredibly exciting and fun to be in Ireland, living with Irish people and getting to know people from other countries. 

Works with project of importance for the society

Kvamshagen decided that she wanted to become an architect already when she went to primary school. The environment has always been important to her, in her master thesis she designed homes in central Drammen where she investigated what was important for climate and the environment.
- What motivates you in your work?
- I like working with large public projects of importance to society. As a project manager I am motivated by finding good solutions for Statsbygg's tenants, which also makes the use of state funds efficient. Environment and sustainability is of high priority, and locating public enterprises in the right place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a result of transport and land use changes are very important.