Building Blocks of a Career

The University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design encourages students to explore, experiment, and connect their education to the world around them. Over the summer, Hines College students did precisely that by immersing themselves in internships expanding their knowledge and challenging their creativity.

Students, like Insherah Alhajrasi, Lara Rafols, and Edwin Tovar, were able to make connections through the Hines College’s annual career fair to set them up for success. Others, like Minh-Quan Tran and Besan Yousef, utilized their connections with organizations such as UH AIAS and NOMA to network with alumni and presenters, ultimately securing positions. And some students, like Aliyah Boly and Norverto Diaz, saw a listing for a position and took the initiative to apply. No matter the method, Hines College students are go-getters, eager to put their talents to practice.

From local design offices to national firms, their stories show how internships can strengthen skills, build confidence, and inspire new perspectives for the future.

Insherah Alhajrasi
Fifth-year Architecture
Interned at: Method Architecture

This summer, Insherah traded studio critiques for real-world site visits. She measured spaces, drafted existing conditions, and carried projects through to construction documents — all while learning the ropes of commercial and industrial design. Her background at the Hines College gave her the confidence to plan spaces and communicate ideas clearly. Along the way, she sharpened her Revit skills, gained hands-on knowledge of ADA requirements, and saw how projects evolve through different phases. One of the highlights? A team sushi-making class and arcade outing that proved design firms know how to mix fun with hard work.

Advice for students: “Ask a lot of questions and do not be afraid to attempt the harder tasks. Even if it is outside your comfort zone, that is where you learn the most. Show initiative, be curious, and treat every assignment as a chance to build your skills.”

Alexa Benitez
Third-year Architecture
Interned at: The John Cooper School

Preserving a school’s history turned into an unforgettable design challenge for Alexa. She spent her internship archiving decades of photographs and memorabilia, creating layouts for a 40th anniversary coffee table book, and even developing a campus sculpture tour website. Her Hines College experience with design software gave her the tools to take on everything from video production to digital storytelling. Alexa says the summer made her a stronger communicator and collaborator while teaching her how design can capture community history. A standout moment was interviewing two award-winning theater students, an experience that showed her how meaningful storytelling can be.

Advice for students: “Do not ever wait for opportunities to come to you. Be open to learning, and even if the role is not directly related to your major, the skills you gain can still be valuable and transferable.”

Aliyah Boly
Third-year Architecture
Interned at: Skyline Development Group

For Aliyah, the real education happened on construction sites. She shadowed projects in different stages of renovation, checked progress against plans, and sat in on meetings with architects and contractors. Her classroom lessons on building systems clicked into place as she watched design decisions being built right in front of her. The internship strengthened her communication and scheduling skills while giving her a deeper appreciation for how materials shape finished spaces. Aliyah left her internship with a new, construction-focused perspective she’s eager to bring back to the studio.

Advice for students: “Apply early and be open to any opportunity, even if it is not exactly what you pictured. Ask questions, take notes, and pay attention to how things are done. The more involved you are, the more you will learn. Every task, big or small, can teach you something valuable.”

Sarina Butler
Master of Architecture
Internship: Ordinary Architecture Practice

For Sarina, the summer meant diving into design competitions and award submissions. She created models, produced graphics, and conducted site research, putting her studio skills in Rhino, problem-solving, and color theory to the test. The experience made her faster and more confident with design software, streamlining her workflow for future projects. Sarina emphasized the importance of networking and putting yourself out there—because every connection can open doors.

Advice for students: "Continue to network and reach out to peers or mentors. Market yourself and reach out to firms that interest you. Some experience is better than none at all."

Fahriye Caliskan
Fourth-year Architecture
Interned at: E Plus Interiors

Designing a sleek new office for a tech startup gave Fahriye her first taste of professional interiors. She worked on floor plans, researched materials, and collaborated with vendors to bring fresh ideas to the design process. Coursework with Rhino and Adobe made it easier for her to pick up Revit and Enscape, two tools she will now carry into future studio work. She also discovered how crucial vendor relationships are in shaping the look and feel of a project. To cap it all off, she celebrated both the firm’s first anniversary and the interns’ accomplishments with her coworkers, a perfect ending to a milestone summer.

Advice for students: “Be ready to learn as much as you can. Prepare yourself for the collaborative work during architecture studio and embrace the knowledge from your coworkers.”

Brandon Chau
Fifth-year Architecture
Interned at: House and Robertson

Commercial projects, ranging from condominiums to restaurants, kept Brandon busy all summer. His days were filled with construction documents, sketches, and client details. These tasks pushed him to put classroom theory into practice. A detailing class at the College proved to be his secret weapon, giving him the technical base to hit the ground running. Brandon feels he came away with a stronger understanding of real construction and a newfound adaptability when projects did not go as planned.

Advice for students: “Be yourself, stay curious, and believe in what you bring to the table.”

Norverto Diaz
Fifth-year Architecture
Interned at: Moment Architects

Not every architecture internship involves a dollhouse, but Norverto’s experience did. He helped build a Victorian-style miniature, complete with Queen Anne details, for an auction. Despite the small scale, the project demanded the same design rigor he’s used to in studio: cultural research, storytelling, and iterative critique. Along the way, he polished his model-making skills, experimented with materials, and discovered how playful projects can spark just as much joy as large-scale work. Watching the dollhouse evolve week after week was one of his most memorable experiences.

Advice for students: “Use the skills you learn in school to explore all the unexpected paths architecture can lead you toward. You never know when you will use those same tools to build something like a dollhouse or something else completely different and fun!”

Lara Rafols
Fifth-year Architecture
Interned at: Stantec

Multiple K–12 projects kept Lara on her toes this summer, as she balanced construction documents, 3D modeling, and even marketing and interiors. One of her most exciting opportunities was collaborating with interns across the country to design a school, which she later helped present to a real client. Communication and teamwork skills from studio translated directly into her professional experience, especially when deadlines loomed. The internship gave her confidence in Revit and SketchUp, expanded her professional network, and sharpened her time management. All of these, she believes, will elevate her studio work moving forward.

Advice for students: “Research the firms you are applying to! Firms appreciate if you know the background of what their firm does, and it can help you stand out. Also, start the application process early, so you are not rushing at the last minute to send in applications. Lastly, take advantage of all opportunities our Career Fair offers every year!”

Edwin Tovar
Fifth-year Architecture
Interned at: Kirksey

Edwin’s focus during his time at Kirksey was on large-scale commercial projects. He developed floor plans, created 3D models, and worked closely with project managers to align drawings with client needs. Collaborative instincts from his Hines College education helped him adjust quickly to team-based workflows. Most importantly, Edwin left the internship with a stronger command of Revit, a skill that will carry him far in future practice. But what stood out most was not just the technical growth — it was building friendships with fellow interns, who made the office feel welcoming.

Advice for students: “Put yourself out there! Remember, the only thing standing between you and your goals is you."

Minh-Quan Tran
Third-year Architecture
Interned at: Powers Brown Architecture

At Powers Brown, Minh-Quan got an inside look at warehouses and office projects. He worked on drafting, quality assurance and quality control comments, and submittals, while drawing on his academic training to visualize spaces from floor plans and sections. The internship provided him with a more grounded understanding of the construction process and how different disciplines coordinate during a project. Beyond technical knowledge, Minh-Quan learned patience and problem-solving, both in architecture and in navigating day-to-day office life. His team’s supportive atmosphere (and their candy drawer) made the summer especially memorable.

Advice for students: “It is all about connections! Every student has heard that you must stand out to recruiters, and making connections is how you do that. Go out to events, talk to people in the field, and connect on LinkedIn. Your active presence is what makes you memorable!”

Besan Yousef
Fifth-year Architecture
Interned at: Inventure

Corporate office projects defined Besan’s summer at Inventure. She produced drawings, maintained the materials library, and assisted with site checks, ensuring discrepancies were identified early. Her design background in spatial planning and visual communication made it easier to adapt to the fast pace of the firm. The internship boosted her technical precision, organizational habits, and teamwork skills, all of which she plans to bring back into the studio. Besan says the experience reinforced the importance of taking initiative and building professional relationships.

Advice for students: “Take initiative in seeking opportunities by reaching out to firms, attending networking events, and following up. Most importantly, treat every project as a chance to build both your skills and your professional relationships.”