Chapter 4

March 8, 1988

Overlooking the River Thames, an eight-story commercial building stands easily attracting keen admirers of its sleek steel, glass design. The innovative trend sweeping through London to incorporate more natural light in office buildings and abandon the dark cave like work environments has steadily grown in popularity. Ever dynamic and perceptive to changing market influence, the founder and senior management team of Foster + Partners developed an architectural marvel and even went a step further by embracing the open concept design to promote cognitive collaboration. In stark contrast to nearby buildings and competitor firms, their talent isn't only reflected in client projects, but through their own base of operations that embody enduring core values to continually evolve and remain relevant. From recent hires to seasoned professionals, all employees take great pride in their association with the design firm.

One in particular, Neil Chambers, is under consideration for advancement to the Regional Department Head within the Offices and Headquarters division. Widely known as a charismatic leader with an industrious work ethic, he's one of the top candidates barring one area, community involvement. Fortuitously during an after hours networking event, conversation segued into the founder's style with handling promotions and preference for those who voluntarily coordinate charity events centered on architecture.

Armed with foreknowledge, Neil steadily championed a summer enrichment program for youth between the ages of 9 to 18 in order to foster more enthusiasm in architecture and apprise them of various career opportunities. In view of the high stakes and time consuming tasks ahead, an army of one is unrealistic. With the aid of his four person team and in conjunction with the Little Architect organization, everything's coming together.

Well aware of the heightened scrutiny in requesting funds from a tight budget, he personally handled the first and most important objective which was financing the program via third parties. Just a month ago, the work of countless hours devoted towards preparation and revision culminated into a 20 minute presentation before the Crown's Board of Charitable Donations. Now with official paperwork in hand confirming grant approval, he can divert more focus on the team and their progress.

Standing in one of the small conference rooms and facing the large atrium lined with two-story windows, Neil waits for Walter Stone, Albert Dunn, Ralph Sutton, and Vanessa Parker to arrive.

One after another they each enter the room and settle.

As soon as the door closes, Neil turns around and directs firm eye contact with all parties before stating, "Thank you for your prompt arrival and making the Foster Youth Architect Initiative a priority. Yesterday, we achieved a defining milestone. Over 85% of funding will be covered by a grant and the miniscule percentage leftover is well within the range of three private charities who will easily donate to become a minor sponsor."

Various expressions of confusion, shock, minor annoyance, and excitement appeared on his team's faces.

"Happy or indifferent, this initiative now has visibility beyond the firm. A journalist at the Daily Telegraph intends to interview our team and perhaps take a few photos. As of now, the publication date is undetermined, but I expect it to occur within days of the final ceremony. With extra publicity, we must present the firm and initiative in the best light possible. Going forward, mistakes will be unacceptable. Bear in mind, the countdown clock is ticking at only two and half months. I highly encourage you to reevaluate your current workload and determine now whether you will need additional assistance. If so, then I'll get the ball rolling to divert tasks from a few interns and first year associates. No need to worry now, but all requests should be submitted no later than Friday morning. So let's get the project under way."

Quickly identifying the candidate selection process as an ideal springboard, Neil turns his attention toward a middle-aged man with brunette hair graying at the temples and says, "Walter, go ahead and take the floor first."

The Senior Project Architect dressed in black slacks, a pale blue button down shirt beneath a gray sweater shifts slightly forward in his seat and rearranges the files before him.

For several minutes, Walter calmly articulates the breakdown of age groups as a determining factor in developing lectures, activities, and events. Given the level of detail, none can disparage that each area wasn't expertly tailored to maturity and acuity. Afterwards the entire group comes to a consensus in dividing the pile of hopeful applicants into approved or rejected. As the initiative limits a maximum of 50 youth, older candidates between 15 to 18 merit more discussion.

Upon seeing the last prospective candidate file, he uncharacteristically hesitates on passing it along to the team. Everyone notices the aborted gesture and quietly wonders what could rattle their colleague who is typically cool as cucumber.

Stiffening his spine to fully support a truly gifted though an inordinately young candidate, Walter focuses entirely on Neal as he has the final authority in either waiving a requirement or outright rejecting it.

"Everyone in this room knows that the path to becoming an architect is long and very challenging. For the vast majority who have an interest in our profession, they will never realize their dreams because they don't have the mettle. It's hard to find and even harder to maintain. This initiative allows us a rare ability to influence the next generation by either cultivating those with genuine passion or weeding out the rest who only have a passing fancy. Regardless, we'll have saved the latter time and disappointment, but for the former we have an obligation to equip them with all the tools of success."

As Walter's words slowly fade to silence, Neil signals him to pass the file.

Several moments pass with only the sound of shuffling papers, before Neil finally stares Walter in the eye for a long moment.

"I would expect only the junior level students applying for an undergraduate program and hoping for a recommendation to actually submit a portfolio. Everything in the file including the sketches is accurate and verifiable?"

Walter confidently replies, "Yes, I met the lad of all places while riding on the Tube which enabled a firsthand account to witness several iterations on his first two works."

In a moment of indecision, Neil rises and walks away from the table to gaze at the slowly meandering river below. Tense seconds elapse while the group and Walter in particular wait for a decision.

Turning at a 45 degree angle, Neil catches Walter's eye and gives him the green-light. With a slight nod expressing his gratitude, Walter moves the last file onto the approved pile.

On the top left hand corner, the application displays in typed letters Harry Potter.