AIA Headquarters Renewal Interns visit Washington, DC

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1692111529\/aqu1xrv3la6g3eajzuca.jpg","id":"6657648"}],"caption":"Interns walk through the AIA Headquarters Renewal Project in Washington, DC. "}],["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1692111433\/c8tcphmgmt4v0tgsbbqd.jpg","id":"6657645"}],"caption":"AIA interns and staff tour the The Octogon in Washington, DC. "}]],"markups":[["strong"]],"sections":[[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"The third AIA Headquarters Renewal Interns cohort has concluded. Emerging leaders share what they learned from this historic building and how the experience is shaping their future in the industry. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Before Soleil Sipes completes graduate school at Prairie View A\u0026M University, she will have led a team of her professional peers. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Before Satchel Sandifer completes his junior year at Tuskegee University, he will have on-site construction hours to use toward licensure. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Sandifer and Sipes are among eight participants in the AIA Headquarters Renewal Internship Project. The program recruits top students from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) to incorporate and engage aspiring architects in the renovation of AIA\u2019s Washington, DC, office space. In addition to their work on the renewal project, interns complete rigorous knowledge building in construction management, contracts, procurement, communication, and trade partnerships. AIA and Turner Construction incorporated content, resources and industry connections that will support the interns all along their professional journey. Leadership from the project\u2019s local architect, Hartman-Cox, as well as alliance partners across NOMA, AIAS, and NCARB are among the industry leaders who shared their time, experiences and expertise. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cIt is invaluable,\u201d said Sandifer about his experience and the opportunity to meet industry leaders. \u201cThe network \u2013 I can\u2019t emphasis enough the amount of people I have met who have been so kind and helpful and just willing to give their wisdom.\u201d "]]],[10,0],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Students engaged with more than 50 presenters, representing professionals across the built environment, exploring topics like professional branding, workplace culture, community engagement, climate impact, and the value of a diverse workforce. While the experience offers significant value to the participants, Travis M. Hall, project executive, Turner Construction, says exposing emerging leaders to a project like the AIA building renewal serves the entire profession."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u0022It brings to the academic learning process the benefit of seeing practices that are new to the industry as the construction industry implements various practices addressing sustainability, inclusivity, and respect within the working environment on projects.,\u0022 says Hall. \u0022\u0022The Intern Programs allow a student to experience the profession in a real world application.\u0022 "]]],[1,"p",[]],[10,1],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"While in Washington, the group also toured the historic Octagon, visited the Intellistruct showroom, interacted with ACE Mentor DC students and met with the firm SmithGroup. The cohort concluded last week with final presentation where each student shared summaries of their experience, along with a highlight and visual interpretation of content from the prior eight weeks. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Then and Now"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"AIA has long sourced its member and industry peers for input in decisions shaping the organization\u2019s headquarters. As plans for the original building began in 1964, AIA selected design plans from a competition where more than 200 people submitted drawings. For the renewal, AIA invited interns to offer new ideas to guide the project. Recruiting HBCU students and graduates aligns with AIA\u2019s commitment to supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion in efforts to ensure a more diverse and equitable profession. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Sipes, who was a part of the 2022 internship cohort, had such an impactful experience she was eager to return in 2023 as the lead intern. She says having the internship on her resume has already made her a more valuable job candidate."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cI got more interest from firms and from people who were looking to hire,\u201d she said. \u201cI feel like I impressed a lot of them because I was in an internship with AIA \u2013 that\u2019s impressive to people.\u201d "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Helping students stand out in the profession is one of many benefits of the AIA intern experience, said Prairie View A\u0026M University Dean Dr. Ikhlas Sabouni, who nominated Sipes in 2022 and fellow particpant Alexis Adjorlolo this year. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u0022Working on the AIA Headquarters facilities\u0027 renovation project is a lifetime opportunity for these interns,\u0022 says Dr. Sabouni. \u0022These outstanding interns worked together as a team despite coming from different universities. They interacted and learned from the AIA leadership and established a very valuable network.\u0022"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Making History"],[0,[],0," "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"As AIA interns focus on their future, the history of the building and those who have worked in it are not lost on these young architects. \u201cI was thinking as we walked through the building and they were talking about all the architects who had been there,\u201d recalls Sandifer, who humbly recognizes he and his peers have also become an important part of AIA\u2019s legacy. \u201cI am probably not going to fully appreciate this for years later. I think about the impact this building has had on architecture across the world; I am not going to feel how special it was to be part of this for years to come. And that is honestly really nice \u2013 it\u2019s nice when things only get more valuable as the years go on.\u201d "]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[],0,"2023 Interns"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Soleil Sipes (Lead Intern) - Prairie View A\u0026M University"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Brian Montgomery - Hampton University "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Ymani Guyton - Howard University"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Alexis Adjorlolo - Prairie View A\u0026M University"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Aurora Konda - University of the District of Columbia"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Satchel Sandifer - Tuskegee University"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Matthew-Ahmad Moore - University of the District of Columbia"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Madisyn Hunter - Florida A\u0026M University"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[]]]}