In my time with CollinsWoerman, I was able to accomplish an ongoing goal of broadening my perspective within the field of architecture. I gained some great experience with both the firm and the surrounding city which has encouraged me to keep along the path of discovery. With my future goals being refined, I have found that travel and experiences can not only make you a better architect, but also give you the chance to explore new places and appreciate the diversity of people.

I was able to work on a variety of project types that enhanced my knowledge in many architectural aspects. From material boards and 3-D printing to façade types and technical detailing, I was able to learn new tasks as well as improve on some already known project work. I was able to use my current SketchUp knowledge to assist my project team efficiently and effectively in addition to working on my lack of professional Revit experience. Ultimately, the firm provides great opportunities to not only showcase your current skills but allows you to improve on any professional experience you wish.

While I was with CollinsWoerman, I grew a tremendous amount both in the profession, and in my personal life. When I made the decision to come all the way to the PNW, I didn’t have any family or friend connections, along with it being my first time on the west coast. It was a big change coming from a small country town, but it was valuable in all aspects: public transport, inner-city life, endless activities, etc. In addition, being with such a large firm gave me the opportunity to learn about my coworker’s experiences and gain some great advice.

My time at the firm has given me some great insight and things I should consider when advancing my career. I have learned that this career field is what you make it out to be, whether that may be technical drawings, project management, designing, etc., it is up to you to decide your niche of project types and responsibilities you take on. For me, designing and creative projects have been starting to take a priority, and CollinsWoerman is one of many firms that achieves this.

My most enjoyable moments at the firm were the office culture. All the employees are welcoming and always willing to answer any question you have. I sought out some advice on my graduate school search and what schools and employers look for in candidates, and the project managers, recruitment team, and everyone else at the firm were more than happy to talk about their experiences. Along with this, I was given the opportunity to explore one of top growing cities in the country. Being in Seattle and getting to know everyone at CollinsWoerman was just the first step in my future plans, and I am grateful for everyone who made it happen.

When I initially joined the CollinsWoerman team, I didn’t know what to expect. Everything was still new to me. Given that I don’t have much experience in architecture, I was unsure of what I would be able to offer and what tasks I would be able to complete. Although I had doubts about my skill set, I pushed those thoughts aside and came to CollinsWoerman with an open mind, excited to be exposed to a field I undoubtedly had an interest in. Throughout my internship, I learned the ways CollinsWoerman was successful in creating sustainable built environments, how to use Revit and Sketchup, and most importantly, what goes into the process of creating a building. I immediately began to feel immersed in the world of architecture, and I was grateful that the welcoming culture at CollinsWoerman created an environment where I can ask questions and for help whenever I needed it.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to learn so much about architecture and learn new skills with the help of the CollinsWoerman team. CollinsWoerman has taught me so much about architecture in a short period. It has taught me that not only is the world of architecture always expanding with new ideas, there is always room to learn something new every day.

Prior to my internship, I didn’t have any experience with the types of tools used here. I learned to use Revit, Sketchup, and Bluebeam in the span of a few months and applied my new knowledge to tasks given to me. The never-ending support at CollinsWoerman offered me allowed me to learn new things every day I was there. Being able to work in an environment where everyone supports and wants you to grow allowed me to take risks and reach out of my comfort zone. I was able to challenge myself by taking risks throughout my whole internship and asking for help whenever I needed it.

During my internship, CollinsWoerman offered me amazing guidance and support. My favorite memory during my internship is going on a site visit to 303 Battery for the first time. I was able to ask questions and see in person what goes into the construction of a building. When I got back from the site visit, a colleague offered to go through the building set so I can see every aspect of architecture come together. The never-ending kindness and wanting me to learn is a part of CollinsWoerman that I’ll never forget.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I initially joined the CollinsWoerman team. I was going into my very first Co-op and I was very unsure of my abilities. I was most confident in my abilities in Revit but was thrilled at the chance to learn how the program was used in the field. I wanted to improve my skill set, become a more confident designer and learn as much about the field that I could. My classes in school were extremely beneficial in teaching me the basics, however I was excited to see how I would grow and change through some real-world experience. I feel extremely lucky to, have had CollinsWoerman host my first Co-op. Another new hire expressed to me that this would be an amazing experience as CollinsWoerman was an amazing firm that was thoroughly put together, and as I continued my Co-op, I found this to be incredibly true. Throughout my time in Seattle, my thoughts on what was involved in the architectural process significantly expanded. I worked on several different phases of several projects and got to witness the natural progression of a project. It is thanks to my experience that I believe I now have a better understanding of the entire architectural process.

When I began at CollinsWoerman I believed that I had a good understanding of how to use both Revit and Sketchup. However, I quickly found out that I still had a lot to learn. I was extremely fortunate to work with so many great people that took the time to sit with me and teach me many new things that I was completely unaware about with Revit, Sketchup, and Photoshop. In addition to refining my pre-existing skills, I was able to learn how to develop a stronger work ethic, multi-task between several different projects, conduct myself in the professional setting and learn how to ask good questions and when to ask them. I came away from Seattle feeling like an entirely new person. My experience at CollinsWoerman has really made it clear to me that I want to continue my path in architecture. Each and every day felt fresh, I was constantly learning and adjusting to new situations, new deadlines, and new work loads. Since I was little, I’ve always enjoyed learning new skills and expanding my knowledge in any way that I could. I am thrilled that CollinsWoerman allowed me to realize that I am in the right field to continue to do this type of work as my future profession.

When I learned that I got the Co-op position at CollinsWoerman I was absolutely ecstatic, and then I got worried. I would have to move to the complete opposite side of the country, and I would have to do it by myself. My time spent in Seattle allowed me to grow in so many ways. I began to feel my confidence in the workplace grow as I slowly learned how to become a more independent person. I was always used to doing things in a group, and thanks to my experience I now know that I can thrive in any setting or situation. What I find more and more each day is how much I miss all of my co-workers. Every single person I met was incredibly nice and extremely helpful, and it truly felt as if I had an entire firm that was willing to help me learn and grow. If I had to choose a single experience, I would have to say it was when my brother visited, and we were lucky enough to be invited to visit the SLI units. It was just so amazing to see what I had been working on during the second half of my Co-op and being able to point out and identify exactly what was what felt incredible.

Before joining CollinsWoerman, I was fascinated by CollinsWoerman’s success in creating sustainable built environment with innovative technologies from SLI, and I was expecting to have opportunities to learn and to work with sustainable design projects. During my internship time at CollinsWoerman, I was lucky to have chances working with both CollinsWoerman and SLI teams, and it granted me a deeper understanding of how to achieve a higher level of sustainability with helps from SLI’s panelized building system. During school, I was always interested in modular design/panelized building system, and opportunities I had at CW allowed me to apply what I learned from school into real world practice. I never thought that I could be so lucky to immediately work on what I am interested in at my first job, and huge thanks to CollinsWoerman that they actually cares about their workers and always try their best to satisfy their workers’ requests.

Working in the professional architecture field requires variety of skills, and CollinsWoerman always encourages interns to take different responsibilities at work. During my internship at CollinsWoerman, I have reinforced my 2D drafting and 3D modeling abilities by working on different projects, and I also had a better understanding of how different parties coordinate with each other within a project by sitting in clients and consultants meetings. The great working experience at CollinsWoerman has reinforced my goal of becoming a successful lead architect in the future. The internship experience at CollinsWoerman has made me understand that I was underestimating the importance of real world practice at work over theoretical study at school, and it has corrected my plans in near future that I will keep work for a few more years rather than go to master’s school immediately.

My favorite experience during my internship at CollinsWoerman must be the work culture at the firm. The friendly atmosphere at office made me enjoyed every moment of my internship, and it really felt like a big family working together and helping each other at office.

When I initially joined the CollinsWoerman Team, I did so with an open mind and readiness to learn whatever came my way. My only expectations were that I would have the opportunity to learn more about the design process as it relates to healthcare projects, and that I would have the chance to learn both proficiency with Revit, and the ways in which Revit can be used as a powerful tool for collaboration amongst team members. During my time with CW I was pleasantly surprised with how much of an effort was made by fellow firm members to ensure that I was able to participate in Healthcare projects and gain experience relevant to my area of specialization The most important thing I’ve learned about the profession are the degree of specialization that exists even within my own ‘specialization’ of healthcare architecture.

While I am currently a graduate student in Architecture at the University of Washington with prior firm experience, the workflow at CW is quite different from anything I’ve previously experienced- namely due to the way in which programs are utilized across the design process. Prior to starting at CW I only had a basic understanding of Revit, but over my time at CW I became significantly more proficient and confident in my Revit skills. I was surprised and touched by how patient members of my project teams were with me while I learned how to navigate the world of Revit, BIM360, and Teams- all of which were new to me.

My experience at CollinsWoerman has helped me to identify where specifically I would like to focus my career on within my existing specialization in Healthcare Architecture. I found that my interests within Healthcare Architecture align closely with that of medical planning, and the opportunities that earlier design phases allow for incorporating information and ideas gained through Research and Development, Data Analytics, and Client engagement. During my time at CollinsWoerman I grew much more confident in my digital drafting skills and workflow. I was initially nervous about creating permit sets, but over my time here at CW I have learned that there are always team members who are checking over each other’s work and making sure that things are correct. I no longer have the fear of asking for help, or that any mistake or imperfection on a set will lead to a catastrophe that I alone am responsible for. (I know now that sounds ridiculous, but hey- it was a real fear of mine!) My favorite experience during my time at CollinsWoerman was learning about ‘Infection Prevention Through Design and Innovation’ during a Webinar presented to CW by Lindsey Bourland.

"When I first joined the CollinsWoerman team, I was inspired by the firm’s established expertise in sustainable commercial architecture, and the wide variety of projects the firm has undertaken. What I didn’t expect was the overwhelmingly welcoming culture and work-life balance promoted by CollinsWoerman. All levels of staff immediately made me feel welcome, trusted, and respected as an intern.

During my time at CollinsWoerman I was entrusted with a variety of tasks and projects that have empowered me to learn by doing. I was anxious about using Revit, but I learned the program substantially when I was put on the Avenue Bellevue team and got to work through the challenges of the design development phase. I had the opportunity to work on Kirkland Urban and Avenue Bellevue, which showed me the complicated interworking of coordinating large-scale urban design projects.

I learned something new at CollinsWoerman every day. Architecture is such a complex and interdisciplinary field with a steep learning curve, and the collaborative and encouraging culture at CollinsWoerman helped me grow both my technical and interpersonal skillsets. One of my favorite experiences was going on site visits to Kirkland Urban and seeing the efforts and hard work of the team come to realization. It was exciting and fascinating to observe the relationship of the architect to the construction site and witness the coalescence of urban design and construction assembly. My experience here has further cemented my existing long-term goal of becoming a licensed architect while focusing on sustainability and urban design."

"Prior to joining CollinsWoerman, I was hoping to acquire skills and knowledge beyond what is taught in the classroom. I was also expecting to learn about how a project goes from concept to completion, and what it really takes to get a project built. During my time at CollinsWoerman, I found it very valuable to sit in coordination meetings with clients and consultants. I never knew that there would be so many parties involved to take on a project. I learned that collaboration and teamwork skills are critical to the success of any building project. Over the past months, I have strengthened my digital modelling and drafting skills. I also got to look into the building code, carry out façade design studies, and prepare a design review package.

My experience at CollinsWoerman has reinforced my decision to pursue architecture. I find it very exciting to work with people with diverse professional background and experiences. I can confidently say the knowledge and skills I have acquired while working at CollinsWoerman will help be greatly in my future endeavors. My time at CollinsWoerman has helped me grow both professionally and personally. I have learned how to work in a fast-paced environment and communicate professionally. I have also learned how to prioritize responsibilities in different situations.

The work culture at CollinsWoerman is fantastic, and it is the amazing people that shape it. My favorite memory during my internship was going out for lunch at a sushi restaurant with my colleagues. I am grateful for their support and guidance."

“Before arriving at CollinsWoerman, I was expecting a stereotypical internship where I would be assisting with menial tasks as they came up. Instead I was almost immediately brought onto the Kirkland Urban team, where I was trusted with quite a bit of responsibility. I was also added to the 303 Battery team, working on all parts of the project for both the architecture and interiors side. Overall, I was delighted by the collaborative culture of CollinsWoerman and how much trust and responsibility is put on interns.

CollinsWoerman has helped guide my passions toward a career in sustainable architecture and interior design solutions, and provided opportunity for me to be able to contribute to a project relating to my goals. I learned so much in regards to sustainability and design, and the importance of these decisions even down to the conceptual level. CollinsWoerman helped me realize how much impact we as designers have over certain environmental issues and that we have the ability to influence this kind of change.

Because CollinsWoerman is such a collaborative and team-oriented environment, I have learned how to better work on a team and communicate ideas. I was given the opportunity to attend weekly team meetings as well as client presentations, where I was able to present my ideas and fully contribute as a member of the project team. My time at CollinsWoerman definitely made me a stronger designer, both in technical and conceptual skill set."