Following last week’s look at an opening for a Design Lead at Den Outdoors, we are using our Job Highlights series this week to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for a Net Zero Emerging Leaders Intern at LEVER Architecture.
The part-time internship, aimed at students currently pursuing a Bachelors or Masters degree in architecture or engineering, will run for twelve weeks from January to April 2023. During that time, the intern will support LEVER’s participation in the AIA 2030 Commitment, with responsibilities such as updating to the firm’s portfolio within the commitment’s DDx database, compiling an internal presentation to give to the LEVER team on their projects’ sustainability performance, and identifying areas of improvement within the firm.
Why the role interests us
Our editorial is no stranger to funded opportunities aimed at promoting sustainable thinking in architectural education. Chief among these is the Upjohn Research Initiative which offers annual grants to students and researchers seeking to advance sustainability in architecture, while the Architects Foundation’s annual Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship supports graduates whose work advances sustainability, resilience, and wellness.
Where the Upjohn and Yann Weymouth grants offer direct support to students in an academic setting, the Net Zero Emerging Leaders internship seeks to extend sustainable education to a practical setting. Funded by the non-profit group Energy Trust of Oregon, the support for the internships are awarded annually to a selection of Oregon architecture firms who, in turn, employ students for the 12-week paid internship to assist in the practice's AIA 2030 Commitment targets and responsibilities.
LEVER’s participation in the 2023 edition of the Net Zero Emerging Leaders internship program is not without merit. Throughout the last 18 months, the Portland-based studio has amassed an impressive collection of accolades in the sustainability field, including a USDA Wood Innovation Grant, a 2022 Wood Design Award, a 2022 AIA COTE Award, and most recently, a winning entry for the 2022 USDA Mass Timber Competition.
Through their latest internship opportunity, LEVER join several other firms recently advancing a sustainability agenda among their design teams. Other recent examples include Arup, who recently undertook a whole life carbon analysis of 1000 projects in their portfolio, and Sasaki, who developed a free tool to measure embodied carbon at early design stage.
The LEVER internship also signals the growing impact of the AIA 2030 Commitment on the architecture industry. Last month, the AIA provided an update on the progress of commitment signatories, including a 10% increase in the number of firms submitting data versus 2020.
Further reading for interested candidates
Job Highlights is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Meet Your Next Employer profiles and interviews interesting studios with open positions currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.
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