Estefany joined Moseley as an intern this summer, devoting most of her time to the K-12 and civic sectors. This was her second internship after working for Mark Turner Construction. Drawing from both experiences and her naval background, Estefany brings a passion for design that is rooted in determination, ambition, and the drive to make lives better. She is now entering her third year of school and hopes to continue developing her skills to achieve her goals.
Why did you choose to study architecture?
As someone who was raised by two immigrant parents, I’ve lived through the lows and, eventually, the highs of their success as business owners. I believe that in both situations school was always my grounding point, and I promised myself that I would go back for my degree after the Navy.
Here I am, 10 years after graduating high school, pursuing a goal that I’m refusing to give up on. And architecture encompasses everything that I love and believe in, morally and fundamentally. It will open doors that I have had my eyes on for a very long time.
What building typologies are you most interested in?
I am mostly interested in building schools and single and multi-residence homes. However, I am open to learning any typologies.
How did you learn about the internship?
Every year, Hampton University hosts a job fair. There, I met Ojima Glover and Stephanie Walker from Moseley.
If you had to describe your Moseley intern experience using three words, what would they be?
Surreal, achievable, motivating.
What are some of the assignments you’ve been given?
I’ve been able to contribute to several projects during my internship. Tasks ranged from schematic design to construction documents to location maps.
What assignments have you enjoyed the most?
I had the opportunity to work on a roof design project, which I enjoyed the most because that was my first set of drawings I made with sections, elevations, and plans. In the end, it all came together beautifully, which made me proud of myself.
Did you encounter any challenges during your internship? What did you learn from them?
A challenge I encountered during my internship was wall sections. I learned some of the different kinds of walls that go into a building and their purposes, depending on whether they are an exterior or interior partition.
Have any of your assignments required you to collaborate with any non-architects involved in design (ex: engineers, interior designers, sustainability coordinators, etc.)?
For the roof design project I worked on, I collaborated with the structural engineer to discuss the thickness of the slab and lintel.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned or the best advice you’ve received during the internship?
The six Cs: clear, concise, complete, correct, coordinate, consistent.
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