3 answers
Ben
Student
Scranton, Pennsylvania
4
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What is being an Architectural intern generally like?
#intern #architecture #career #career-paths
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3 answers
Mark Rahe
architect
1
Answer
Austin, Texas
Updated
Mark’s Answer
Hi Ben:
I went to the University of Texas specifically to participate in their intern program. At the time, UT School of Architecture offered a semester credit for 9 month internship with a qualifying architectural firm in the state. I did this between my fourth and fifth year of college. After completing the program, I didn't want to go back to school! (though I did, and graduated). While a college degree is essential, and knowledge acquired there is important, working in an architectural firm before graduation, taught me some very valuable lessons in business, personal relations and the inter-workings of an office environment. It reinforced my desire to become a licensed architect. If you are interested, I suggest that you try to focus on a small to medium-sized office - this has the advantage of being able to do a lot of different job types, and might help you focus on what, if anything, appeals to you most.
Be a part of everything an office has to offer you to do - from making the coffee, to being a part of client presentations. It's all fun!
Good luck!
I went to the University of Texas specifically to participate in their intern program. At the time, UT School of Architecture offered a semester credit for 9 month internship with a qualifying architectural firm in the state. I did this between my fourth and fifth year of college. After completing the program, I didn't want to go back to school! (though I did, and graduated). While a college degree is essential, and knowledge acquired there is important, working in an architectural firm before graduation, taught me some very valuable lessons in business, personal relations and the inter-workings of an office environment. It reinforced my desire to become a licensed architect. If you are interested, I suggest that you try to focus on a small to medium-sized office - this has the advantage of being able to do a lot of different job types, and might help you focus on what, if anything, appeals to you most.
Be a part of everything an office has to offer you to do - from making the coffee, to being a part of client presentations. It's all fun!
Good luck!
Eric Dacus, AIBD, CQM
Architectural/Construction Professional
17
Answers
Updated
Eric’s Answer
Ryan,
This really depends on the Architect or Firm you get in with. But for general topic discussion a Intern will typically do:
1. admin work helping a PM /Architect
2. Office filing, copying, light hand sketching unless you have very specific Parametric Design program experience. i.e. Revit, Sketchup, Bluebeam then you will aid a little in the fundamentals of design layout.
3. Will take a ton of notes, watch meeting interaction with Clients and team members.
Again this really depends on the Architectural Firm. I know when I Interned I was put doing specification writing, CAD, field surveys, etc.
Hope this helps. Good question.
This really depends on the Architect or Firm you get in with. But for general topic discussion a Intern will typically do:
1. admin work helping a PM /Architect
2. Office filing, copying, light hand sketching unless you have very specific Parametric Design program experience. i.e. Revit, Sketchup, Bluebeam then you will aid a little in the fundamentals of design layout.
3. Will take a ton of notes, watch meeting interaction with Clients and team members.
Again this really depends on the Architectural Firm. I know when I Interned I was put doing specification writing, CAD, field surveys, etc.
Hope this helps. Good question.
Ryan Deri
Student
3
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hi!
I went through the application process for architectural internships last summer. For myself having not coming from an architecture program, it was difficult to find something other than shadowing one of the working architects. For those in a program, it seemed like a lot of work using design softwares. When I spoke to an Architecture professor/practicing architect she said that the best place to start is to learn as many programs as you can. Some good ones are AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. She said that a lot of Junior Colleges offer 2 unit summer courses in these that are helpful to have on your resume.
From there, I would say to apply to any internships that spark your interest. Then, I always search the company on LinkedIn and message a few people that work there who I have things in common with. Hopefully that sparks conversations that lead to good advice and even your resume being flagged.
Best of luck!
Ryan
I went through the application process for architectural internships last summer. For myself having not coming from an architecture program, it was difficult to find something other than shadowing one of the working architects. For those in a program, it seemed like a lot of work using design softwares. When I spoke to an Architecture professor/practicing architect she said that the best place to start is to learn as many programs as you can. Some good ones are AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. She said that a lot of Junior Colleges offer 2 unit summer courses in these that are helpful to have on your resume.
From there, I would say to apply to any internships that spark your interest. Then, I always search the company on LinkedIn and message a few people that work there who I have things in common with. Hopefully that sparks conversations that lead to good advice and even your resume being flagged.
Best of luck!
Ryan