A WORLD-renowned architect and Peter Symonds alumni has returned to the college to view a pair of light installations he created there.
Rodolfo Rodriguez completed the installations, called North Ascent and South Ascent, during his final year at the college in 2007.
He created them as a pair to encapsulate the continuous evolution and adjustment required to achieve goals, the importance of looking up, and the need to aspire to further possible paths, even if the destination has been conquered.
Rodolfo said: “I’ve worked on a variety of high-profile projects in locations as diverse as Taiwan, Valencia, Dubai, Qatar and Brazil, but I have always wanted to come back to Symonds. I regard my time at Symonds as one of the most pivotal moments in my life.
“After Symonds I went on to become involved with some of the world’s most notable cultural projects, including the 300th anniversary of the design of Sir Christopher Wren’s St Pauls Cathedral, taking what I had learned with me. Symonds equipped me with the skills I needed to progress in a profession I love, and I can’t put into words how thankful I am to the teachers and their support.”
Rodolfo toured the college with his former tutor, Sandra Showell, and retired head of art, David Thomas. David, who retired from Peter Symonds in 2012, was critical in supporting Rodolfo in conceiving and producing the installations 16 years ago.
He said: “Rodolfo was exceptional, and I remember his time here like it was yesterday. He brought determination and ambition to every project he undertook and I felt privileged to share his excitement.
“It is such a thrill to catch up with him, and the fact that his installations remain in Ashurst is a real testament to the longevity of their appeal.”
Rodolfo’s return is the latest in a series of spotlights on Peter Symonds alumni as part of the “Where Are They Now?” series, celebrating life beyond the college wherever that may be.
Rodolfo read A Level fine art, product design, maths and Spanish at Peter Symonds. He went onto a BA Architecture First Class at Oxford Brookes University and a MSt Building History (Distinction) at the University of Cambridge.
He has achieved several accolades affiliated with institutions including RIBA, The Ashmolean and The Bartlett School of Architecture.
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