W_Internships combine winter break and internships for the win

From Jan. 2-12, a cohort of juniors in architecture from Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture, Arts, and Design participated in an immersive program to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for their future professions.

A partnership between architectural firms, students, and the university, the college's W_Internship program connects interested students with two-week professional experiences across the region. The students contribute to project teams, conduct research, develop case studies, and even create drawings, models, graphics, and design concepts. At the same time, they ramp up their professional development and career readiness by receiving feedback on their W_Internship interviews and their portfolios.

What are W_Internships?

Margarita McGrath, associate professor of architecture at Virginia Tech, directs the W_Internship program in collaboration with Andrew Durfee, administrative operations coordinator. Winter 2025 will mark the program’s third official year.

Interested students complete an application and an interview process before being accepted by the participating firms. Once offered a W_Internship, the students keep a full-time employment schedule over the two-week period and are paid an hourly rate or a stipend by the firms for their work. An added benefit of the short program? Generally, students can find temporary housing through nearby relatives or friends.

Providing opportunities

McGrath was tasked with creating a new Architecture Advisory Board (AAB) during her previous role as the college's undergraduate architecture chair.

“Our vision was to create a board that was diverse in every aspect,” McGrath said. “The idea for W_Internships originally came up in an early AAB meeting in a conversation between board members David Keith, FAIA, design principal and CEO of Hanbury, and Corey Clayborne, FAIA, senior vice president of knowledge and practice at the American Institute of Architects. Clayborne was particularly concerned about two groups of students: those who couldn't take internships during the summer because they did not have connections in the profession and those from small towns without any architecture firms nearby where they could intern. That didn’t strike us as fair to students – everyone should have an opportunity to participate in enrichment and career readiness opportunities like internships.”

Internships give students job experience, guide career choices, help them network, and strengthen resumes to make them more competitive on the job market. W_Internships give students the chance to reap the benefits of internships without giving up summer jobs or incurring expenses for housing in a far-flung city for three months.

“Still, I was initially skeptical,” McGrath said. “I thought, how much could students really learn in two weeks?” She decided to try the program out herself through her architecture firm in New York City. She brought on four winter interns: three from Virginia Tech and one from Columbia University.

“It was astonishing how much they achieved,” she said. “One student designed a 12-foot-wide townhouse, which was subsequently built, and the spatial design is brilliant.  The others did an early design for a gender equity nonprofit and presented that to the entire board of the nonprofit. I was impressed – and completely sold.”

What comes next

McGrath envisions the program becoming part of the Bridge Experience Program, Virginia Tech’s plan for all undergraduate students to learn experientially through place-based opportunities. Inspired by Clayborne and Keith’s ambitions and the Architecture Advisory Board's vision, she has set a clear objective for this year: to expand the geographical reach of W_Internships. This entails seeking out opportunities with firms located in additional cities that align with the students’ potential career destinations post-graduation.

Further, McGrath aims to enhance the diversity of architectural practices available to students, offering a broad spectrum of scales and specialties.

The Architecture Advisory Board met in February and discussed finding ways to fund scholarships that cover room and board. W_Internships also align with Virginia Tech Advantage, which focuses on transformational experiences for all students, including those with unmet financial needs.

Student feedback

Participating students laud the program for improving their confidence, honing their understanding of what type of architecture they want to practice, demonstrating the on-the-job value of their studies, and giving them experiences in new cities.

Sterling Hensley worked as an intern at Duda Paine Architects in Durham, North Carolina. “The internship provided me with my first professional experience in an architecture firm,” Hensley said. “I saw how the skills that I am learning in the studio are applied in the business world. All my coworkers were extremely helpful and understanding. Seeing the connections between what I am taught in school and what a typical workday is like in a firm environment has given me more appreciation and focus for my studies.”

Marc Minor worked at KTGY in Washington, D.C., a firm known for its work in sustainability. “The firm mainly focuses on high-end residential and hospitality projects,” Minor said. “While interning with them, I helped their team with one of their multifamily projects and went on various site visits. I also edited and red-lined construction documents and helped the design team with renders for an upcoming multifamily development in Charlottesville.

“Overall, I really enjoyed how welcoming the team was,” Minor said. “It was clear that everyone’s opinions are heard and respected. I learned so much about how an architecture firm operates, how to use different architecture software, and I even picked up some construction terminology. I’d love to work with the firm again in the future.”

Employers benefit from the energy and enthusiasm of the interns and are prioritized by talented students when it comes time to hire. Student Morgan Zinnecker pointed out the low risk/high return structure of the program for employers – and for interns She said she loved her placement with CPL Architecture, Engineering, and Planning in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“A two-week commitment is a lot less daunting than three months,” Zinnecker said. “My supervisor, Robin Washco, shared that the CPL team felt similarly. It was a great way for the firm to get to know me and how I would fit into the team if I were to join in the future.”

“Having an intern around made it exciting for the firm too,” she said. “Many people would ask my input on things for a fresh perspective. I think any firm that participates in this opportunity values students authentically. I am excited to say I'll be joining the CPL Charlotte team again this summer as an intern, a connection that would not have likely been made without the W_Internship program.”