At ABLA, we recognize the creativity and fresh perspectives that our interns bring to the table. Interns are integral to our team, and we’re excited to celebrate National Intern Day. In honor of this day, we sat down with two of our talented interns, Jacqueline Olivas and Jared Jorde, to discuss their experiences, learnings, and the unique opportunities they’ve encountered at ABLA.
Interview with Jacqueline Olivas: Embracing Real-World Projects and Professional Growth
Jacqueline is a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s in the Science of Landscape Architecture. She has an interest in master planning and has honed her skills in creating construction documents, rendering graphics, and project proposals.
What projects or tasks did you enjoy working on the most?
“So far, the project that I have enjoyed the most is called Radiance. It was one of the first projects that I was introduced to when I first started my internship. What made this project even more exciting was being able to take a site visit. Being able to see the work that you’re doing on a computer screen and it coming to life gives you a different yet meaningful perspective on the work you’re doing every day. A few other tasks that I have enjoyed while being here at ABLA are creating sheet setups for construction documents, rendering graphics, and more recently being able to help out with a project proposal.”
What new skills or knowledge did you gain during your internship?
“During my internship, I have gained a better understanding of what construction documents are used for, the basics of what goes into specific documents, and the different types of plans that are part of a set. I have also managed to further my skills in Photoshop and AutoCAD, learning shortcuts for commands that ultimately have made me quicker and more efficient. About once or twice a month, the office will have a vendor come in to show off their products. I have found these ‘Lunch and Learns’ particularly beneficial because I was able to view samples of the products that would be on-site and how they’re used.”
What did you enjoy most about the work environment at ABLA?
“What I enjoy most about the work environment at ABLA is the emphasis on collaboration and helping out one another. Another thing I really enjoy about the work environment is the camaraderie among my colleagues, allowing me to feel welcomed and appreciated. As cliché as it sounds, everyone is always optimistic about their work and from what I’ve noticed, each has a great work ethic that benefits themselves and the company. Overall, it’s clear that ABLA values their relationship with their employees and it is shown each month with small perks even I as an intern get to enjoy!”
How has this internship influenced your career goals or future plans?
“My internship has influenced my career goals by giving me a better understanding of the different types of opportunities that are within our field. With my experience at ABLA, I’ve noticed that each individual has their own specialty of work they do. Being able to help out the different teams around the office has introduced me to a lot of specifics, helping me explore what I want to do in the future. One of the reasons why I applied for the internship here is because of my interest in master planning, knowing it is what they specialize in. Although it is hard to say what exactly my future plans are when I feel like there is still so much to learn! My main goal right now is to continue to learn through other professionals that will help me create a lasting impact as they do and, of course, prepare for the LARE through my professional and schooling experience.”
Is there anything you wish you had known before starting your internship?
“If there is anything that I wish I knew before I started my internship, it is to put the fear of what I don’t know aside. I can’t tell you how many times going into my internship I had thought about my previous skills from school and how they would impact my experience. When in reality, those skills I acquired would set me up for success by gaining a better understanding of what I already knew. Through this experience, going back to school this fall excites me to apply my expanded skills and knowledge to my own work. I’ve come to learn that what you gain from an internship is based on the work and time you are willing to put into your experience and if I could tell myself this before starting, it would have really put those beginner nerves at ease. All in all, I have learned a lot about my interest in the field of landscape architecture and I’m excited to hear and share my experience with my classmates this upcoming school year!”
Interview with Jared Jorde: Exploring Community Impact and Landscape Architecture Professional Practice
Jared is a second-year MLA student at Arizona State University and has embraced the opportunity to work on planting design for community parks. He has gained valuable insights into the logistics of large-scale projects.
What did you expect to learn from the internship?
“I expected to gain additional familiarity with some of the professional tools we were introduced to in school, particularly AutoCAD. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the additional variety of assignments I’ve been asked to take on during my internship.”
What projects or tasks did you enjoy working on the most?
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to help with planting design for community parks. I love plants, so having the opportunity to choose a plant palette and use planting design to hopefully enhance people’s experience in their community space was very exciting to me.”
What new skills or knowledge did you gain during your internship?
“There have been so many. At a macro level, getting exposure to the logistics of large-scale projects—seeing how designs evolve through iterative processes, how projects are managed over the course of several years, how files are organized, learning about the types of interactions we have with various stakeholders, etc.—has been really valuable. On a more micro-level, learning to use AutoCAD, Photoshop, and other tools efficiently and effectively has been huge as well.”
What did you enjoy most about the work environment at ABLA?
“I appreciated how willing people were to assist and answer questions despite being busy. There is a culture of helping one another that I very much benefited from.”
How has this internship influenced your career goals or future plans?
“It’s been interesting seeing large-scale community master planning and the work that entails. It’s definitely a field I would be open to in the future.”
What’s next for you after this internship?
“I’m excited to return to the MLA program and enjoy the experience of being a student. School is a great space for experimentation with design, tools, and processes, and I want to fully enjoy that opportunity while I have it.”
What did you learn about the industry and the company during your time here?
“I’ve learned how dynamic the day-to-day tasks of a landscape architect are. There’s so much beyond design.”
Is there anything you wish you had known before starting your internship?
“I would encourage any future intern to approach the experience with curiosity and a willingness to learn new things.”
Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your time here?
“It’s not so much an isolated experience, but what I’ll remember is how willing people were to help. It’s not always convenient to answer questions from someone new to the profession while dealing with a busy workload, so I very much appreciated all the time people took to help me out. I hope to return the favor to future interns.”
Celebrating Our Interns
At ABLA, we celebrate our interns and hope that by fostering an environment that values innovation and professional growth, we ensure our interns gain invaluable experience in planning, landscape architecture, and landscape design. We look forward to continuing to support the next generation of landscape architects, helping them excel in their careers and contribute to the future of landscape design.
