Author: Lauren White
My name is Lauren White, and I am the newest intern at Cornerstone Architects! I grew up in Austin and I absolutely love it here. I am excited to be back in such a beautiful, busy, and fun city. I recently graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Environmental Design. When I first started at A&M, I wasn’t sure which area I wanted to study within architecture. Everything from construction science to landscape design interested me. After taking an introductory class, I ultimately chose architecture because the field encompasses many of my interests. I am grateful for my time at A&M because of all that I learned about architecture, but also because of how A&M has shaped and developed me as a person.
I have wanted to design houses for as long as I can remember. I never pass up an open house sign or flyer, and I’ve attended Austin homes tours for many years now. I even volunteered as a docent at Cornerstone's Portofino Ridge Residence during this year's Austin Modern Home Tour back in February! I am incredibly excited to begin my career here at Cornerstone Architects because of the firm's reputation around town, their commitment to high-caliber designs, and the office culture.
My favorite part about working for Cornerstone so far is the variety of work that I’ve been exposed to. I’ve only been interning here for about two months, yet I have already been able to work on over a dozen unique projects. My tasks range from red lines, to site plan drafting, and architectural renderings. Additionally, Cornerstone utilizes many different software for various aspects of each project. I have enhanced my skills in AutoCAD, Revit, Photoshop, SketchUp, and Lumion. These are just a few elements of my experience that stand out to me compared to other firms I have worked at.
At Cornerstone I’ve also been able to contribute to our rendering production. Architects are able to easily decipher a set of drawings for a custom home, however, for clients it can be difficult to visualize how each element on paper will translate into 3D. Renderings are an incredibly useful tool for architects to be able to show clients their design vision. On another note, they are equally as useful for designers to visualize and test out elements of the design. For instance, in Lumion, a powerful rendering software, I am able to easily change external materials, sun conditions, and landscaping. An example of this would be testing out an element like overhangs. When the house is modeled and imported into Lumion, I am able to modify the sun angle, sun height, time of year, and many more aspects to be able to determine if the architectural elements achieve the desired effects. These are a few renderings I created in Lumion!
I’ve also enjoyed working directly with the Cornerstone partners when producing these renderings. I did not think that I would have so much interaction with the partners, and being able to learn from them is certainly unique to the firm, and a highlight of my time here. Here are some interior, sketchy renderings I enjoyed working on with Bob Wetmore.
Another element of interning at Cornerstone that I love is how knowledgeable and creative everyone is. This is a very collaborative environment, so I am never stuck not knowing who to ask or what to work on next. I would recommend any architecture student to apply for internships here. At other firms I have worked at, I haven’t had the breadth of experience that I have already accumulated during my short time at Cornerstone Architects!
Are you a 4th or 5th year architecture student wanting to gain experience in the "real world" of architecture? We are always looking for motivated students to join our team! Check out our Careers page for more info on our firm and how to apply!