April 30, 2008

Columbia University Seeks Summer Interns in Architecture and Planning to Work on Long-Term Campus Plan

Students from four local colleges and universities and historically under-represented groups encouraged to apply for summer work experience

This summer Columbia University's long-term campus plan for the old Manhattanville manufacturing area in West Harlem will provide a new opportunity for area college students to gain hands-on experience in architecture and related fields. Working alongside professional planners and architects, the students will have the opportunity to be actively engaged in the designing of the proposed campus.

The 12-week, paid internships will run from June 2 through August 22. Participation is open to graduate and undergraduate students from Columbia University, City College of the City of New York, Cooper Union and Pratt Institute. Interns will be able to work flexible weekday hours between 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Students from historically under-represented minority groups and women—especially students from upper Manhattan communities surrounding the Manhattanville area—are strongly encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 2.

"The purpose of this program is to identify and offer opportunity to college students in architecture or related fields who might not otherwise have the benefit of an internship during their studies," said Philip Pitruzzello, Columbia's Vice President for the Manhattanville Capital Projects. "Columbia has a well established commitment to strong minority, women and local businesses and such firms are already key partners in this long-term project. We would also like to extend a special invitation to students from our local Harlem community to apply and make the most of this chance to learn through experience and contribute to shaping the future."

This program is open to students studying urban planning, engineering, construction, real estate, architecture or related fields. Students may focus on interior design, urban design, landscape architecture, structural engineering, and mechanical engineering, depending on the student's background and the architectural or construction firms requirements. Primary responsibilities include assisting with projects and administrative work with the early phases of the long-term campus plan.

"We strongly support the goals that Columbia University has expressed for this internship program," said J. Max Bond, Jr., FAIA, partner with the architecture firm of Davis Brody Bond Aedas. "It is often difficult for minorities and women to begin a career path in our field and these internships will introduce young people to the environmental professions, such as architecture, engineering and construction. We are particularly interested in having students from Harlem and Northern Manhattan participate. They will have the unique opportunity to learn about and contribute to the economic, cultural and educational development of their community."

The major architecture and engineering firms involved in Columbia's Manhattanville internship program include:

  • Renzo Piano Building Workshop (New York office), architects
  • Davis Brody Bond Aedas, architects and planners
  • Body-Lawson Associates, architects and planners
  • Jaros Baum & Bolles, consulting engineers
  • WSP Cantor Seinuk, structural engineers

Columbia's planned 17-acre Manhattanville in West Harlem campus will be located just north of its historic Morningside Heights campus and consist primarily of the four large blocks from 129th to 133rd Streets between Broadway and Twelfth Avenue. The plan includes approximately 6.8 million square feet of space for teaching, research, underground parking and support services. It will feature new facilities for civic, cultural, recreational and commercial activity. Its improved, pedestrian-friendly streets and new publicly accessible open spaces will connect Harlem to the new Hudson River waterfront park now under construction.

The expansion will not only generate thousands of new local jobs, but it will help Upper Manhattan to continue to flourish as an international center for knowledge, creativity and solutions for society’s challenges. To learn more, visit http://www.neighbors.columbia.edu/pages/manplanning/index.html.

To apply for an internship, students should send a resume and one to two work samples (8 1/2" x 11") to careers@davisbrodyaedas.com. Indicate "Manhattanville Summer Internship Program" on the subject line of the email.

Resources


We invite you to learn more about Columbia's proposal for a revitalized urban academic community in the old Manhattanville manufacturing area at the western edge of West Harlem and share your ideas, concerns, and questions with us. Please contact the Office of Government and Community Affairs by phone at (212) 854-2871, or by e-mail at campusplan@columbia.edu.