Intern, Retail Architecture

Position Summary:

The Store Planning Studio at RDC is seeking an intern to support its growing retail portfolio and gain exposure to all phases of project development. This experience is designed to help bridge the transition from an academic studio environment to professional practice, while also contributing to the firm’s commitment to research and development.  Interns will assist in the creation of design and presentation materials, with a strong emphasis on documenting and communicating each project’s design intent. Project types include commodity and service retail, food and beverage, and wellness environments.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate research efforts as needed in support of design goals; Gather market intelligence regarding design trends in the retail and hospitality industries
• Knowledge sharing of new industry trends and tools, with a focus on leveraging AI programs to complement and enhance the rendering process
• Use graphic design software and modeling tools to produce design exhibits, such as renderings, presentation packages, and models to convey design goals at various stages of the project schedule
• Assist with routine discipline tasks including diagraming, modeling, detailing and drafting
• Assist with material research and sourcing materials
• Meet with assigned mentors regularly to seek guidance and training
• Enrollment in NCARB Architectural Experience Program (AXP) is strongly encouraged
• Use current company standards and procedures as directed in the production of drawings and exhibits using digital tools such as SketchUp, CAD, and Revit
• Adhere to the policies of the company's Employee Manual

Measures of Performance:

Interns will be evaluated based on all of the items in this document as they apply to their specific role. The following items represent the primary performance benchmarks that the company will be measuring and the tools that will be used to provide input.

• Ability to follow direction from and collaborate with RDC staff
• Quality of documents
• Ability to complete tasks efficiently and within agreed upon schedule
• Proactive management of allocated time
• Implementation of RDC standards and procedure

Qualifications:

• Three years of architecture education from an accredited program or enrollment in IPAL (Integrated Path to Licensure) program preferred
• Basic knowledge of architectural design, development construction documents
• Basic understanding of architectural design, site planning, design development and graphic presentation
• Proficiency in SketchUp and AutoCAD/Revit (latest version) and other graphic and business software and their application in developing and presenting design documents
• Basic oral and written English communication skills