SUMMER INTERN SPOTLIGHT: INTERVIEW FEATURE

Every summer, we engage with the local architectural and engineering communities by hosting interns in our Cleveland office and other office locations. During this pandemic, we were able to accommodate two interns, Abigail Denninghoff in our Tucson office, and Morgan Hordinski in our Cleveland office. We asked them what they thought about their internships this summer and what they learned.

First off, tell us a little about yourselves. What college and degree are you studying for and what year of study are you in?

Denninghoff: I am a student at the University of Arizona. I am in my third year of the five-year Bachelor of Architecture program and minoring in food studies and sustainable built environments.

Hordinski: I will be a junior this year at Grove City College where I am pursuing a degree in electrical engineering.

How would you describe our company culture?

Denninghoff: The company culture seems very collaborative. Everyone seems to get along very well and enjoys being helpful to others when they need it. Everyone seems like they enjoy working here.

Hordinski: I would describe the company culture as friendly, collaborative, and welcoming.

How did the job match your expectations? How did it differ?

Denninghoff: My expectations going into this summer were to learn as much as I could and be exposed to what real-world architecture looks like. I think that it met these expectations as I learn something new almost every day. With this year being as hectic as it is, the office environment has been different than I originally expected just because there are only a few of us actually in the office.

Hordinski: The internship exceeded my expectations in that I learned so much in such a short period of time and was able to help in a meaningful way on many different types of projects.

What was the most beneficial experience for you?

Denninghoff: I don’t think I can pick one experience. Revit training has been extremely beneficial because I now have an entire other skill set that I can use in school and professionally. I was given the opportunity to do a site visit on a property and draw the entire building in Revit based on that visit which was also very beneficial. Just being in the office, meeting with clients, or listening to how others talk to clients has been very eye-opening to what architecture looks like in the professional world.

Hordinski: I found that working with different people on a variety of projects was extremely beneficial, as it allowed me to learn from more than just one person and exposed me to a wide range of project types.

Did you feel the work was a valuable experience in relation to your studies?

Denninghoff: I think that it has been extremely valuable to my studies. There is only so much school can do to prepare you for the professional world. It is just an entirely different environment. This experience has exposed me to what life after school will look like.

Hordinski: While there was a bit of overlap between my classes and what I learned during the internship, I found that I learned so much this summer that I haven’t been taught in school. As a result, I have a much clearer understanding of the field of MEP engineering and about electrical engineering as a whole.

Briefly note new skills, techniques, and knowledge you gained during your internship.

Denninghoff: Revit, construction document production, client interaction, PRO-City and county records, permitting, and reviewing processes.

Hordinski: I learned a lot about using AutoCad, sizing feeders and disconnects, how circuit panels work, more about transformers, controls, and many other things related to electrical equipment and lighting/power.

If you could make a change to your internship program, what would you change? What, if anything, about the company as a whole?

Denninghoff: The only change I would really look for is, just because of COVID, not because of the company or internship as a whole, and that is having more people in the office.

Hordinski: Because I interned during the time of this pandemic, it would have been really great if all of the staff were here so that I could have met and learned from some of the people with whom I have only emailed.

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Denninghoff: Yes!

Hordinski: I would definitely recommend this internship to other students who are interested in MEP engineering and want to get a great learning experience while in school.