NSPJ Architects has provided internship opportunities for many years, but Summer 2020 is our second session of the official Student Internship Program. Thankfully, we were able to maintain our commitment to the next generation of architects even with the many challenges raised by COVID-19. Now we are looking back to reflect on what has been a unique summer for us all.
Across three career fairs, we met an enormous number of talented and eager students. Throughout the early part of 2020 we conducted interviews in-person and mailed out offer letters to candidates on March 3rd. We were extremely pleased to honor those offers as the world shifted around us and welcomed aboard our Summer 2020 student interns:
- Ashley Henington (KU, May ’21)
- Lauren Lamker (University of Arkansas, May ’23)
- Ryan Bayerle (KU, May ’22)
- Sean Reading (K-State, May ’22) returning intern!
NSPJ has long believed in the value of student interns; so much so, that we have seven former interns on staff with three of them serving on our Board of Directors. Calistro Reyes is our most recent convert.
THE STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Serving as our Intern Coordinators for a second year, Michael Mitchelson and Michael Knapp continue to build and enhance a well-structured experience for our student interns. We believe in giving our interns real working experiences, not menial tasks unrelated to projects. From Day 1 they get added onto project teams and are immersed in real ongoing work. Michael Knapp has said about the program, “Our purpose is to maximize the value of the internship experience for both the students and the full-time employees at NSPJ.” The goals of the NSPJ Summer Internship program are to provide an immersive and well-rounded experience that could be carried through to future coursework and professional endeavors. Possessing a legacy of turning interns into permanent team members, NSPJ takes our investment into our student interns seriously.
Before they departed, we sat down with Ashley, Lauren, and Ryan about their time this summer at NSPJ in Prairie Village, KS. Ryan Bayerle is not actually departing and has chosen to continue with NSPJ in lieu of school for the next year. As a returning intern, Sean spent his summer working remotely from St. Louis so we couldn’t sit down with him but read all about his first summer with NSPJ here.
INTERNS Q & A
Ashley, University of Kansas
How was your summer? What did you do?
My summer was great! I got the opportunity to work on many different types of projects and different development phases. I also got the opportunity to see some projects currently under construction. The custom home tours were very helpful because I was able to see examples of how what we put into two-dimensional drawing sets translate to the real application on-site.
Anything you learned that could apply to studio or other classes?
I learned so much from NSPJ this summer, and all of it was so valuable to my education. All the work I put into the construction documents will help me produce better quality
designs and think about buildings more comprehensively.
What did you enjoy about the Kansas City-Area this summer?
I am a local to the Kansas City area, but I had not previously spent a lot of time in Prairie Village. I really enjoyed trying some new restaurants while employed at NSPJ, whether on a lunch outing with the other interns, or dinner after work.
Lauren, University of Arkansas
How was your summer? What did you do?
I had an amazing experience working at NSPJ this summer. I spent most of the summer working on a multifamily building in Revit and it was cool to see the progression in the detail of the drawings as it got closer to permit.
Anything you learned that could apply to studio or other classes?
I learned so much this summer that I’ll be able to apply to the rest of my schooling and beyond. My software skills have improved and I learned better techniques to model. I also learned a lot this summer about the construction of a building through drawing wall sections and going on-site visits. The mechanical space needed in a project to hold equipment is especially important.
What did you enjoy about the Kansas City-Area this summer?
I’ve lived in the Kansas City area my whole life and it’s a great place to be. Even with all the safety measures due to the coronavirus, I was able to experience some of the best KC has to offer. I was able to spend a lot of time with family at home while learning about many of the cool things NSPJ is a part of in the KC metro area.
Ryan, University of Kansas
How was your summer? What did you do?
I had a great summer with NSPJ! I am very grateful that I got to dive into my interests in residential architecture. I got to work on a large variety of residential projects which exposed me to different styles of architecture along with different methods of design.
Anything you learned that could apply to studio or other classes?
I learned a lot about what goes into residential projects in terms of details and construction. I look forward to my next twelve months with NSPJ because what I learn here will prepare me for KU’s Studio 804: Building a House.
What did you enjoy about the Kansas City-Area this summer?
I enjoyed having the opportunity to drive around many of the Kansas City neighborhoods and look at the homes in the area. I was able to take in the different styles of architecture that are present here along with the evolution of homes over the decades. It was also inspiring to notice the impact that NSPJ has made in terms of shaping the architectural vision of the Kansas City communities.
If you are interested in becoming a part of the NSPJ Student Intern program please check out our careers page for more information.
