 He became a mason apprentice in 1896 and graduated from Odense Tekniske Skole in 1900.He was employed as construction overseer by master builder Thaaning in Kerteminde in 1900-01 and as a draftsman for architect Emanuel Momberg in Odense in 1901-02.In 1904-06 he was employed by several different architects in Copenhagen including Anders Berthelsen and in 1906-09 as drawer and overseer by H.C. Glahn, Nykøbing Falster in 1906–1909.