Insights

As summer comes to a close and our interns head back to school, we are taking a few moments to reflect on their experiences with us this summer. 

At CGS Architects, we believe that the future of architecture rests in the hands of talented, creative individuals who are eager to shape the world around them. Our summer internship program is designed to offer high school, undergraduate, and graduate students a comprehensive experience that blends hands-on project work with professional development, setting the stage for their future success. This summer, CGS had the pleasure of mentoring 3 interns of varying educational levels: Caroline Albrecht, Olivia Krider, and Melissa Kazanci.

Some highlights from this summer Caroline, Olivia, and Melissa shared included: experiencing office culture, going on site visits, being challenged by new software, oh, and of course taking advantage of the prime Georgetown location for lunch, coffee runs, and after-work shopping!

Caroline, a novice to the architecture world and high school senior at Connelly School of the Holy Child, revealed how challenged she was with SketchUp, a 3D modeling software. She states “It was hard for me to get the lines perfect and, pretty much, to figure out all the basic functions, but in the end, over 3-4 weeks, I was able to create my final model.” The SketchUp model of Caroline's final project, a lobster shack in Maine is pictured below.

As a third year student in her architecture program at the University of Arizona, Olivia, identified a few other skills, “the biggest skill I’ve learned through CGS is Archicad of course, a software I have grown to love. I’ve learned so much about the building process from LEED certifications and green energy design to form and function principals even a little bit about permitting and code reviews. Thanks to the people at CGS I’ve learned about the professional world of architecture and how to create and present a proposal that showcases the design in the best light.”

Melissa, who is pursuing her Masters of Architecture at The Catholic University of America, lists applying lessons from class to the real-world, learning new software, and seeing designs come to life on site visits as skills she has gleaned from her internship this summer. Ultimately, Melissa contributes her learning to architects she has worked alongside at CGS. “Everyone at CGS is really passionate about what they do and I always feel encouraged to ask questions. I would not have learned so much without them.”

Melissa also shared a deeper appreciation for the office’s historic Georgetown location besides convenience: “Working in Georgetown has been really cool, the mix of old and new [buildings] makes the area very dynamic and unique. The historic architecture is iconic to DC and it’s nice to be in an area with such significant cultural value.”

Caroline, Olivia, and Melissa all found their time with CGS to be pivotal in their next steps. While Caroline left with a better understanding of the different college architecture programs available, Olivia and Melissa finished the summer with a rejuvenated outlook as they entered their fall semesters. Melissa clarified her next steps “would be finishing my Masters in Architecture and Net Zero Design at CUA. I’m looking forward to working afterwards and being able to help create spaces that will directly have a positive impact on people’s lives.”  Similarly, Olivia ascertained “For now I want to take all the wonderful, educational, great advice I’ve received from everyone at CGS and apply it to my schooling and projects. After this summer I feel more established in how a building comes together and the steps that go into making a good design a great project and I can’t wait to flex my new skills.” 

By the end of our internships at CGS, our goal is for each intern to have developed a strong foundation in architectural practice, equipped with both practical skills and professional insights. We aim to provide a meaningful experience that not only enhances their understanding of the industry but also inspires them to pursue their architectural aspirations with confidence. We are proud of the work Caroline, Olivia, and Melissa have done this summer and we wish them luck in the coming school year.