This summer, I had the opportunity to intern in construction management with AUCH Construction. As a sustainability major, I have always been interested in the built environment and how to make buildings operate as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
While I had no construction experience prior to this role, my experience in sustainability and energy was very applicable to this internship. Working on the Residential Energy Team at the Hanley Sustainability Institute during the school year, as well as having a LEED Green Associate accreditation, provided helpful foundational knowledge.
During my internship, I learned about many aspects of construction management, including how to write requests for information, process submittals and read architectural and engineering drawings. I was assigned to several projects at a high school, including a boiler and pipe replacement, a roof replacement and the installation of a turf football field with new track and field equipment.
On the boiler project, I saw firsthand how system upgrades can create both financial and environmental benefits. The school was able to move from a four-boiler system to two boilers that are 85% more efficient. The redesign of this system also reduced the number and diameter of pipes, saving material and cost. The new roof will also improve the building envelope and overall energy performance, contributing to sustainability.
In addition to system upgrades, the turf field installation showed me how much planning goes into drainage systems and how unexpected challenges can disrupt a project. We faced shallow underground utilities and unpredictable summer weather, which caused multiple delays. Due to the heavy rain, we had to remove an extra foot of soil and replace it with gravel to stabilize the surface before the turf could be installed. Experiences like this taught me how adaptability is essential in construction.
My final project entailed creating a proposal for a potential addition to the company’s 19,000-square-foot LEED Gold-certified headquarters, which all interns had to complete individually. We were asked to put together a proposal, schedule, list of trades, value engineering ideas, logistics plans, and an informative letter to stakeholders and community members regarding the plans and how they will affect the environment.
This project allowed me to use my sustainability background directly. I suggested different building layouts to meet the company’s needs while minimizing excess material waste, repositioned bioswales and designed an additional parking lot to meet code. Additionally, I recommended the implementation of more sustainable strategies such as a rain garden, permeable pavement, low-VOC materials, high-efficiency MEP systems, energy-efficient lighting and orienting the building to balance natural light with efficient energy use.
Having the opportunity to apply knowledge from my major in a field that I had no prior experience in was rewarding, as it allowed me to demonstrate my knowledge and how it applies to the field of construction.
Overall, this internship was such a valuable experience that perfectly intersected my interests in sustainability and construction management. I learned how sustainable design concepts are applied in projects, and I’m excited to keep exploring how the built environment can support a more sustainable future.