Feix & Merlin Architects. Photo by Ellen Hancock

As one progresses in their professional journey, the depth of knowledge required to practice architecture arises as a requisite reality. Aspiring practitioners enroll in college and proactively acquire foundational skills for their future careers as architects. Internships act as a salient supplementation meant to deepen the practical education of the up and coming pupil, with an aim for growth and development. But what exactly does an intern do? What do firms look for in an intern? And what characteristics make up a good internship?

This is the first in a new series titled, Archinect’s Guide to Job Titles where we will be  taking a deep dive into each of the architecture industry’s professional job roles. Some of the positions we’ll be looking at in the next few pieces include BIM Specialist, Studio Director, and Project Manager. For this piece, we’re excited to kick off with an exploration of the intern, which will also be followed by another series looking at exemplary internship programs at firms across the country.

Apprenticeships have been around since the Middle Ages. Typically, a young person would display some aptitude in a craft or trade and seek out a master to learn from. They’d enlist in a seven-year contract with their new mentor and begin their training in the craft. Food and housing were provided and they’d work in the master’s workshop for the length of their appointment. This was the path. There was no school. The early apprenticeship model prioritized practical learning, a polytechnic approach that enabled students to learn hard skills while also acquiring necessary theoretical knowledge in context as opposed to a remote classroom. Upon completion, some pupils moved on to open their own workshops while others became journeymen, the equivalent of a licensed professional in architecture.

Today, apprenticeships, in the traditional sense, still exist. Electricians, carpenters, plumbers, luthiers, and many other occupations are structured by an apprenticeship model. Throughout time, within architecture, apprenticeships have functioned a bit differently. Take some of the early renaissance architects. They were polymaths who were self-taught and used theory and observation to devise their architectural creations. Perhaps the most impressive of that time is Filippo Brunelleschi, who was responsible for designing and building the dome of the Florence Cathedral, while trained (as an apprentice) as a goldsmith and sculptor, he developed an affinity for mechanical engineering and construction, skills that he cultivated throughout his life. 

As time progressed, an apprentice in architecture began to refer to an entry-level draftsperson who was learning from a master and would one day become an architect.

As time progressed, an apprentice in architecture began to refer to an entry-level draftsperson who was learning from a master and would one day become an architect. In the late 19th century we find Frank Lloyd Wright “apprenticing” under Joseph Lyman Silsbee and Louis Sullivan, before opening his own practice. Here the model is less formal; no seven-year contract, but rather an understanding that a young person learning a craft (architecture) had come to work under a master (in this case, Silsbee and Sullivan). Later, Wright would go on to have many of his own apprentices. It was the same with Mies van der Rohe and Peter Behrens, Gregory Ain and Richard Neutra, and Zaha Hadid and Rem Koolhaas to name a few. 

The Great Debate

For years, we have used the term “intern” to describe an aspiring architect. With the onset of the Internship Development Program (IDP), the term became a new definer of up and coming talent. But, it wasn’t too long ago that the use of the word sparked much debate. Back in 2015, then NCARB President Dale McKinney, FAIA, NCARB said:

“Architects are those who have met all the requirements to become licensed in states and jurisdictions throughout the United States. Everyone else is not an architect. But their status also doesn’t need a regulatory title such as ‘intern’ or any similar reference. This has become a term that has been perceived as negative by many in the architecture community and a term that really does not fully value the work that aspiring architects bring to the profession.”

In 2016, NCARB formally renamed its Internship Development Program to the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) as a response to the “Great ‘Intern’ Title Debate.” As such, NCARB now refers to those working toward licensure as “aspiring architects” and “exam candidates,” terms that the organization believes better recognizes the status of these professionals. The AIA also released statements of their own addressing the use of the title. And Archinectors even jumped in on the discussion.

Despite this apparent resolution of the term, some firms still identify their greener degree-holding team members as interns...

In another statement, the AIA classified an intern as “a supported title for students working in an architectural office while pursuing an architecture degree, it should not apply to those who have already earned a NAAB-accredited degree and are currently working for a firm while pursuing licensure.” Despite this apparent resolution of the term, some firms still identify their greener degree-holding team members as interns or some other derivative of the term. For the sake of clarity, here we will simply use “intern” to describe both students in school and early professionals who are part of an internship/mentorship program at a firm. Let’s go ahead and further navigate this semantically dubious title.

The Modern Intern

Early in one’s career, the overarching goal is to become a licensed professional, and internships should guide you toward that goal. This is achieved by navigating through the AXP, which is meant to provide a “candidate” with an outline of the required experience hours needed to achieve a minimum competency to pass the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) and thus acquire a license in architecture.

However, today, internships come in all shapes and sizes. In theory, all internships should  expose you to the work you’ll be doing as a full-time professional, while some may be more task-specific. One may have you organizing the samples library, and another could have you hacking away at study/presentation models all day. When it comes to this “position” there isn’t really a universal manifestation of how it’s executed. The diversity of experiences differ so widely that a certain degree of research will be required of those seeking an opportunity.

Structured Internships

The day-to-day responsibilities of an intern will vary by firm. Top firms typically have an established and structured internship program designed to expose you to a wide array of phases within a project while pairing you with someone in the office to guide and teach you. In a setting like this, you’ll likely need some core skills that will allow you to contribute to the studio in a fruitful way. Remember: an internship is an opportunity for you to learn from and contribute to the team you’ll be working with. It is a two-way relationship.

Some of the skills that will be useful to have in your internship are:

• Some proficiency in BIM (Revit and ArchiCAD are the popular ones)

• Adobe Suite (you’ll probably be doing some rendering work)

• Ability to read basic construction drawings (plans, sections, elevations, and details)

• Speaking / presentation / communication ability

• Physical model building

Most job postings for internships will share these characteristics. You’re not expected to be an expert, but just to have some kind of familiarity. In order to contribute effectively, you’ll need some of these basic skills. And don’t worry, firms that take their internships programs seriously understand that you are learning. If you go in, be upfront and do your best, you’ll be fine.

Internship or Exploitation?

There is another kind of opportunity that classifies itself as an internship, but in actuality, is something else entirely. Here, the “intern” is more of an inexpensive laborer hired to help the firm meet an approaching deadline or surplus work. There’s usually a set time frame (an advertisement will say something like “we have five weeks worth of work for you”) and mentorship is not a priority. Assignments of this type can consist of finishing presentation models for a client, creating renderings, assembling material boards, and/or producing construction documents. Oh, and there will be lots of overtime.

There is another kind of opportunity that classifies itself as an internship, but in actuality, is something else entirely. Here, the 'intern' is more of an inexpensive laborer hired to help the firm meet an approaching deadline or surplus work.

These are task-oriented appointments that have come to be associated with the architectural “sweatshop,” those environments where labor and man-hours are of the focus. While a structured internship will help you move forward in your path to licensure, a sweatshop “internship” might end without any progress in your AXP. However, despite its rigorous nature, many are happy to sign up for these opportunities. You get to see the inside of a firm (which is great if you haven’t been able to experience that), you learn a lot from other interns (if you work in a model shop, for example, you’ll learn some cool tricks), and you get to be around “high-design” (this is loaded, but the sweatshop tends to be associated with “starchitect” studios). In the end, you’ll have to decide what you want to get out of your internship. Hopefully, it’s to learn how to become a great architect.

Ask Away

Sweatshops are a worst-case scenario. When you’re searching for internships, don’t be afraid to ask questions. What kind of mentorship model does the firm employ? What kind of work will you be doing? Does the firm have a program for you to follow or is it more of a loose set-up (this isn’t bad)? Will you have an opportunity to see the full cycle of a project? What will be expected in your day-to-day? These are all legitimate inquiries that will help you determine if an opportunity is right for you. 

Employers that are interested in more than just your Revit skills are noteworthy. When a firm is interested in your goals and aspirations, if you want to become licensed, or what your interests are, they are looking for a good fit for their team, someone that they could potentially see working for them in the long run. All in all, deeper interest on both sides, is a good sign of potential quality.

You’re a part of the team

So, what is an architectural intern? An aspiring architect on a path to licensure. That’s the short answer. Ultimately, it’s crucial to understand that an internship is a job. You’ll have responsibilities that you’ll be held accountable for, and your employer will expect you to perform like any other team member, in relation to your knowledge and ability. It will be scary and it will be challenging, but it will also be rewarding. 

Interested in an internship job? 
Take a look at the current opportunities on Archinect Jobs ↗

————

For information on the salary/pay range for interns in your area, check out Archinect’s Salary Poll. Additionally, Archinect has extensively covered the issue of unpaid internships in architecture. Some of those stories include:

• Architecture Lobby’s Statement on Unpaid Internships

• Get F*^king Paid

• AIA speaks out against unpaid internships in new emerging professionals campaign

And this Archinect Sessions episode

For more information on internships in architecture check out “Understanding Architecture Internships.”