By the time she graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague, Zuzana had already spent several years working part-time at a small design firm in Pardubice, where she helped design family homes and small apartment buildings. But she knew she wanted to take on more complex projects. A friend recommended K4, and she joined the company in 2018. Today, Zuzana works with her colleagues to coordinate large-scale developments, including the Rohanské nábřeží project. What she enjoys most is the variety that every new project brings.
For the first three years, Zuzana worked part-time at K4 – she still had a foot in the residential housing sector. "It made sense to me to work in both places; I drew from both worlds. But in the smaller company, the work was often repetitive, and I saw that I couldn't grow as much there. I was drawn to large projects where I could learn a lot," says Zuzana.
Today, she works at K4 as a Project Designer, coordinating the work of everyone involved and helping bring individual designs together into one cohesive solution.
"Every day is different. I enjoy understanding what everyone involved in a project is dealing with – what challenges developers face, how architects approach design, what the MEP engineers need, and how all these different disciplines come together. Everything is interconnected, and our role is to keep the whole project moving in the right direction."
Since 2020, much of Zuzana's work has centred around the Nový Rohan development, one of the largest urban development projects currently underway.
"At the beginning, we coordinated the entire site in line with the zoning plan. We prepared the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), secured building permits for the individual phases, and we're now working on the detailed construction documentation for each building. It's a project that keeps a large part of our team busy, and we've been involved in it for years. But it never gets repetitive. One project allows me to experience every stage of a project designer's work."
The role also comes with a high level of independence and responsibility.
"Clients are always working against tight deadlines, and you learn as you go. But that's exactly why I'm developing much faster than I would anywhere else. Every month brings something new, and I know I'll continue learning for many years to come. That's what I love most about this job."
Just as important is the support she receives from both her colleagues and the company's leadership.
"Our Lead Designer is exceptionally experienced, and we all learn a great deal from him. At the same time, he trusts us to take ownership of parts of the project ourselves. We grow together as a team, and everyone keeps improving."
The strength of a team becomes most apparent when things don't go according to plan, for example when architects or clients introduce significant last-minute changes.
"Every design change has a knock-on effect on other parts of the project. Managing all those connections can be challenging, and of course it can be stressful. But I know I can rely on my colleagues, and together we'll always find a solution. We're a close-knit team, and that's something I really value."
That trust also extends to flexible working arrangements.
"We know we'll deliver what we've promised, whether we're working from the office or from home. If you need to take care of something during the day, it's never a problem. The company is very flexible in that respect, and I really appreciate it."
And what advice would she give to anyone considering a career at K4?
"If money is your only motivation, you'll probably never be truly satisfied. What really matters is enjoying the work you do and the people you do it with. When you love what you do and do it well, the financial rewards will follow."
If you'd like to work on exciting projects and become part of a supportive, experienced team, take a look at our current vacancies. We'd love to hear from you.
