Internship Experience @ Berman Design- Chicago Office
This last summer I worked as an architecture intern at Berman Design in Andersonville Chicago.
I am a fourth-year architecture student at Andrews University going into my second semester. My goal this summer was to work in an architecture firm and soak up as much as I could before starting school again.
Joel was very welcoming. He helped me find a place to stay in Chicago for the summer and made me feel right at home. We have had the chance to grab lunch several times, meet with clients together, and he even introduced me to his dragon boat team.
I was also able to attend the Urban Sketchers Chicago Workshop 2023 where Joel was one of the instructors giving classes. A key part of our process at Berman Design is sketching out ideas as part of initial conceptual design. With the workshops I attended I was able to improve the quality of my sketching.
I sat in on meetings with both clients and engineers, had in-depth conversations with a variety of strategic partners in the industry such as general contractors, utility suppliers, clients, franchisors. I got to edit and publish interviews, produce design ideas, design sketches, render landscape models and design ideas, scan buildings using matterport technology, and more.
After the summer I was able to continue working with the Berman team remotely from school and now during December break, I am at the Chicago office working in real time. Joel found a cozy apartment for Jason, my coworker, and I to stay in above The Swedish American Museum. We also visited the B. Harley Bradley House, a historic house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Kankakee, Illinois followed by a Christmas dinner with other architects from Chicago.
Collaborating with the Berman team in the office and virtually has been an amazing learning experience.
I am thankful that this firm decided to invest in me.
- Basam M. El Sayed G.