Costanza La Greca, Associate Director Ikon Consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton

In order to help current students and recent graduates to find their way in the working world, many of our alumni shared their career story. Here the story of Costanza La Greca, Associate Director Ikon Consultancy at Lambert Smith Hampton in London (UK). USI Degrees: Master in Architecture, 2018 and Bachelor in Architecture, 2016.

How did you start your career?

Soon after graduating from my Master’s in Mendrisio, I received a call from Barbara Weiss Architects, the private practice where I had completed my year out. I had loved my time there, so I accepted immediately and began my career back in a familiar environment that had already shaped much of my early design thinking. After gaining strong architectural foundations at BWA, I moved between studios to try and develop a clearer understanding of where my interests truly lay. While I enjoyed the craft and detail of architectural design, I realised I was increasingly drawn to the broader strategic considerations behind a project: how places are shaped, how decisions are made, and how development influences a city at scale. This shift in focus naturally steered me towards the development side of the industry. Working in London reinforced that interest, as the city is constantly evolving and the impact of development is both immediate and far reaching.

Why did you choose a career at Lambert Smith Hampton?

Shifting from architecture to development consultancy wasn’t an immediate decision. My main interest had always been centred on social impact and on working closely with public authorities to deliver places that genuinely support communities. Over time, I realised that I wanted to be involved earlier in the decision making process, where I could influence outcomes in a way that went beyond design alone. I spent a long period researching the development landscape in London and understanding which organisations were truly aligned with those values. After many interviews and conversations, I found the right fit in Ikon Consultancy. Ikon forms the project management arm of the wider development consultancy within Lambert Smith Hampton, and our work is strongly rooted in supporting public authorities across London. What drew me in was the focus on delivering affordable and socially driven schemes, often in boroughs where development has a direct and measurable impact on people’s day to day lives. London is a city defined by constant change, but it is also a city with deep inequalities and an urgent need for high quality, sustainable, affordable homes. Working at Ikon allows me to contribute to that agenda in a practical and meaningful way.

What is your current role/duties?

Currently I am an Associate Director at Ikon Consultancy - Lambert Smith Hampton, leading development projects mostly on behalf of public authorities across London. My role focuses on guiding schemes from early feasibility through to delivery, ensuring they meet strategic objectives around affordability, sustainability and long term community benefit. I coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage programmes and budgets, and provide clear, accountable reporting to support local authority governance processes. I challenge design proposals, ensure statutory and planning requirements are met, and maintain a strong focus on quality and value for money. During procurement and construction, I act on the client’s behalf to administer contracts, manage change control, monitor site progress and steer projects through to practical completion and handover. My work is centred on helping public sector clients unlock complex sites, make informed decisions and deliver much needed affordable homes.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career at Lambert Smith Hampton?

In my view, success in my company and overall in this field, requires a genuine desire to contribute to the public sector and to deliver projects that make a meaningful difference to the community. The work is varied and often complex, so strong organisational skills are essential for managing competing priorities, maintaining clear communication and ensuring accountability throughout each stage of a project. Openness is equally important: openness to people, new ideas and different ways of approaching challenges. Working with public authorities means engaging with diverse stakeholders, adapting to evolving circumstances and being willing to collaborate constructively. You develop a need to be proactive, curious and comfortable stepping outside your comfort zone to find solutions that deliver long term social value. Together, these qualities support a culture that is committed, collaborative and focused on delivering better outcomes for London’s residents.

What positive aspects and qualities meant most to you during the study programme you attended?

I would not be where I am today without what I learned in Mendrisio. The Academy tests your passion, your grit and your desire to contribute. It pushes you to think harder, think smarter and constantly improve. What meant the most to me was learning how to think, how to question, how to refine ideas and how to turn that thinking into a real, structured process that I could rely on. Mendrisio taught me to be rigorous while staying open, and to never forget that architecture, urban planning and everything that sits around them is not a science but a human experience. The emphasis on people, on context and on the meaning of place shaped the way I approach my job and my life today.

What competences and skills acquired in your USI Study Program have been useful/are useful to your professional career?

Mendrisio gave me a strong foundation in analytical thinking and design evaluation, which now helps me quickly assess feasibility, spatial efficiency and buildability in early stage development work. The programme’s emphasis on practicality taught me to balance ambition with constraints, ensuring proposals remain deliverable within planning, technical and programme limitations. I also developed a strong sense of economic reasoning: understanding how design decisions affect cost, viability and long term value. This has been essential in my role working with public authorities, where affordability, efficiency and evidence based decision making are central. Together, these skills allow me to review schemes critically, guide teams effectively and support clients in delivering viable, high quality projects.

What is your advice to USI students entering the job market?

Stay open. Architecture is a wide world and your degree prepares you for far more paths than you may expect. Stay curious and don’t limit yourself to the roles you already know, there are many doors you can open that you might not even have imagined when you started. Above all, enjoy the process and stay open to people and communities. Whatever direction you take, remember your place in the wider context and the impact your work can have. Keep learning, keep exploring and trust that your skills can take you much further than you think.