From Intern to Architect: Christoph’s Journey of Development and Expertise at Republic

Christoph Opitz is an architect whose career path is as diverse as the projects he works on. From his beginnings in Austria to his move across continents, Christoph’s passion for design and problem-solving has guided him through a wide range of architectural experiences. Now at Republic, he talks about what it means to work on projects that blend creativity with technical expertise, and how his hands-on approach has shaped his growth in the field.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do at Republic.

CO: I’m a trained architect. I studied architecture in Austria, and after various experiences, I ended up in Winnipeg and began working at Republic. My journey started with an internship in Quebec, which led me to Republic. I’ve always appreciated being bilingual, and Republic offers opportunities to maintain my French, which was a pleasant surprise.

I started as an intern and worked on a variety of projects. My first two major assignments were a modular housing recap design for Defence Construction Canada (DCC) in Wainwright, Alberta, and the new training facility for the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Manitoba (OETIM). Since then, I’ve been involved in many other projects, but those were the first where I took on more significant roles.

Q: Can you talk about your internship experience and how you transitioned from Quebec to Winnipeg and to Republic?

CO: I moved to Canada from the USA in 2018 and began the process of becoming a licensed architect here. This involved getting accreditation from the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), which took two years. In 2020, I received my accreditation and started my internship at a small firm in Quebec.

We moved to Winnipeg because of a career opportunity for my partner, Kari. I started looking for architecture opportunities in the area, and Republic stood out. When searching for jobs in Winnipeg, Republic consistently came up, so I applied and was fortunate to join.

Q: You mentioned your transition from intern to architect at Republic. Can you elaborate on that?

CO: Before coming to Canada, I had nine years of experience in design and had worked on several competitions and construction administration for a few projects in Europe. However, I had only led one project through both design and construction phases. At Republic, I’ve had the chance to focus on the execution side of projects, which was something I hadn’t fully experienced before. This has been a perfect match for me, allowing me to fill in the gaps in my previous experience and gain a complete understanding of the architectural process.

Q: How has your journey from intern to architect been at Republic?

CO: It’s been a rewarding experience. At Republic, you have the chance to take ownership of projects, even on smaller assignments. You’re responsible for the entire process, under supervision, which gives you the opportunity to develop as an architect. I find the most joy in seeing something go from a design on paper to a finished, physical structure.

Q: Can you tell us about some projects you’ve worked on at Republic? Any highlights?

CO: One of my earlier projects was a Recap for four existing buildings in Wainwright, Alberta. It was an interesting task because it introduced me to a typical North American approach to single-family or small-scale residential housing.

Another notable project was the OETIM training facility. It was my first experience with Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and I was involved from the start to completion. The building had a mix of functions—offices, classrooms, and a workshop for large vehicles—all under one roof, which made it a unique and engaging project.

Q: Are there any current projects you’re particularly excited about?

CO: I’m really enjoying working on VIA Rail projects. I’ve always been fascinated by train travel, so getting to work in that realm is exciting. One particularly memorable project, which introduced me to heritage work, is the Lorne Terrace residence, an Admiral’s house with unique functional layers of privacy. It’s a fascinating building with a mixture of uses, and I’m enjoying working on it.

Q: You’ve mentioned heritage projects. Do you like working on them?

CO: Yes, but I wouldn’t want to focus exclusively on heritage work. One of the things I appreciate about Republic is the variety of projects. You can work on different types of projects, and that keeps things interesting.

Q: What’s next for you? Any dream projects?

CO: Looking ahead, I hope to reconnect with my Master’s degree from Virginia Tech, which had a concentration in Building Science. I’d love to apply that knowledge to future projects. We may have some envelope-specific projects coming up that will require creative problem-solving, and I’m excited about that opportunity.

Photo Credit: David Lipnowski