What An Internship Looks Like At Schimberg Group

At Schimberg Group, we are passionate about enabling future architects to enhance their skills through our coveted internship programs. We asked one of our recent interns, Daniela Abreu De Cabo, about her internship experience at Schimberg Group to help other prospective interns know what to expect. 

Going after my dream role

During my senior year of high school at Sarasota Military Academy, I decided to get some real-world experience and take my first steps into a career at an architecture firm. While researching positions, I was introduced to Schimberg Group and immediately knew this was the right internship for me. 

I researched Schimberg Group’s portfolio and decided I wanted to be a part of the firm. After some initial meetings and exposure to the office, I was welcomed onto the team with open arms. 

The early days

The initial internship was for the summer of 2021, so I was ready to soak up as much as possible in this short amount of time. On my very first day, I already felt like a core part of the team. Everyone at Schimberg Group was so welcoming and friendly that they immediately soothed my first-day jitters.

My first days involved visiting a project’s site, building a design model, and learning about their SketchUp, AutoCAD, and InDesign software. During the site visit, I watched the construction workers install the project’s roof - seeing the blueprints come to life before my own eyes was amazing! 

A few months later, I revisited the site to see their progress, and as the team taught me about the spaces taking form, I could envision exactly how people would eventually use the new building. I also learned a lot about materials and interior design during this visit. It was truly an incredible experience. - I even got to sign my name on the wall as a memento.

What I learned

My first project was a sketch-up model I built from scratch based on the team’s plans. Through this process, I began to understand how much precision and patience it takes to cover intricate details. After I created the existing building on the computer, we used it for experimenting with colors and materials from a design standpoint. The team was super supportive of my first model and always on hand to help me improve it.

Next, I built my first architectural model and got to choose what materials I wanted to work with. The team brought me to local art stores to source supplies and taught me about material differences and how these materials influence the model’s aesthetics. The team really valued my input with this project, making the learning process super rewarding and exciting. 

While cutting the materials, the team showed me how to represent the design using different techniques, and I learned how much the tiny details impacted the final output. I got to experiment with materials like bass & balsa wood, silicone sheets, wire, paper, and cardboard to create the model. 

I enjoyed overcoming the challenges of this model, such as making a tree out of copper wire. I also learned how to simulate a rock wall using mesh and represent contours by building layers of cardboard. Looking back, creating the site was probably one of the most complicated parts of building the model, but I enjoyed every minute of it. 

I also had the opportunity to use AutoCAD and InDesign for the first time and learned how to create a room using this software, a skill I’m now confident enough to use in my next role. 

Though it took a lot of trial and error, we achieved the perfect model design in the end. 

Final thoughts

Other than the work and experience, I always felt welcomed at the office and could express myself. My opinions mattered to the team, and I always felt comfortable asking questions. I made amazing friends and have learned techniques I’ll never forget. 

Schimberg Group always showed interest in my future and how this opportunity could shape my academic career. Overall, working with them has reassured me of my career choice and has given me unforgettable memories and experiences of which I am very proud. 

Become an intern at Schimberg Group

Each summer, Schimberg Group accepts summer interns who express an interest in future studies in the field of architecture. Our program is flexible and works with the intern’s schedule, both in and out of school. We encourage interns to be available as many hours a week as they feel comfortable, in order to benefit the most from this opportunity. Payment ranges on an hourly basis from $0 to $10, depending on the time committed and purpose of the internship. We provide all necessary tools, though personal computers sometimes help for outside of the office. 

To apply for our internship program, please forward your resume and letter of interest to info@theschim.com.