Sheka Kanu

Sheka Kanu is a 23-year-old architecture student from Longford, currently in his fifth year of the architecture programme at ATU Sligo.

Now in his second year participating in the campaign, Sheka brings a continued passion for design and community impact. He previously took a gap year to work with James Hamilton Architects, where he contributed to a wide range of projects from refurbishing an English cottage on a UNESCO World Heritage Site to playing a design role in the Navah Resort in the Caribbean. One of the highlights of this experience was being part of a team that won a design competition for a private island in the Bahamas.

Sheka’s academic journey and practical experience have shaped his interest in socially sustainable architecture and community-driven design. He is deeply inspired by world cultures and enjoys travelling as a way to broaden his perspective. A long-term goal of his is to use architecture to support education and community development in Sierra Leone, where his family has strong roots.

In this year’s Building Heroes campaign, Sheka will document the final weeks of his time as a student at ATU and the transition into professional architectural practice. During that process, his content will explore how young people can take the skills they've developed and apply them to personal projects and ambitions without necessarily relying on clients or funding.