Insights
Insights
07.19.19

Summer intern tell-all

OPN proudly welcomes summer interns to each of our studios every summer because we firmly believe in the importance of growing and fostering the next generation of architects. We grow and learn from these emerging professionals as much as they do from working side-by-side seasoned designers.  We are thrilled to introduce our 2019 summer class of interns. They dance, they sew, they care about sustainability, and a surprising number among them love Lily James.

Leia Farrens Le 2

Cedar Rapids Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Bachelor of Architecture, 2020

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? UCARE, Recycling Initiative in College of Architecture UNL

Where are you from? Tekamah, Nebraska

One fun fact: Favorite Band= Panic at the Disco!

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  Its ability to evolve.

What are you reading right now? “Becoming” by Michelle Obama

What inspires your design? The need for a more sustainable future.

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Lily James

 

Rodcely MuroRod 1

Des Moines Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? Iowa State University

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Bachelor of Architecture, Spring 2020

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? Summer internship at Ask Studio. Research Assistant position in CBER.

Where are you from? Venezuela

One fun fact: I belonged to a dance crew since I was 13 years old until I came to college.

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  I understand architecture as the design of spaces where people create memories. I find that intriguing and I love being part of it.

What are you reading right now? Architecture magazines and portfolios.

What inspires your design? The context of the site. Every site brings up new questions, and using architecture to come up with solutions in a way that it positively impacts people, inspires me.

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Zendaya

 

Braden CooperBraden 2

Des Moines Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? Iowa State University

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Bachelor of Architecture, 2021

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? Rally Cap Properties / 2019 Hansen Prize Nominee / Nature of the Game Exhibit

Where are you from? Des Moines, IA

One fun fact: My only pets growing up were fish 🙁

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  The cult-like social atmosphere.

What are you reading right now? “Delirious New York” by Rem Koolhaas and “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel Brown

What inspires your design? The idea of a better and more interesting future!

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Robert Pattinson

 

Bryce RicheyBryce 1

Madison Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? University of Milwaukee SARUP

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? BSAS 2020

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? Two externships and military experience.

Where are you from? Appleton, WI

One fun fact: I love coffee.

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  I love to draw and I hope my designs can become reality and have the ability to impact people that experience them everyday.

What are you reading right now? Not reading anything specific, but I just bought and have been looking through “Hot to Cold” by BIG

What inspires your design? Traveling and sketching

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Leonardo Decaprio, he’s just awesome.

 

Mary LeMary 2

Cedar Rapids Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? Iowa State University

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Bachelor of Architecture

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? One of my projects confronted the lack of accessible & permittable public space in Chelsea, NY. The concept shows the integration of the existing building and the refiguration of public/private programs that allowed a physical connection to the High Line.

Where are you from? Des Moines, Iowa

One fun fact: I don’t know how to swim, which isn’t much of a fun fact if I had to survive on a deserted island.

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  It’s great how there’s been more awareness about how much diversity greatens the range of knowledge in design, and how these conversations about different perspectives learned from others’ experiences really does uplift the communities we’re building for.

What are you reading right now? The last thing I read through was a cookbook, does that count?

What inspires your design? Sometimes I envision something that may not be possible, but I try to work towards it anyways. That’s what drives me, along with whoever I’m working with. I try to challenge others as I do with myself for both parties to be able to learn from one another.

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Ali Wong

 

Carolan HoffmanC2

Des Moines Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? Iowa State University

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Bachelor of Architecture, 2021

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? PRISMA in Rieman Gardens at Iowa State

Where are you from? Washington, Iowa

One fun fact: I am Originally from Reno, Nevada

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  I really like the collaboration part; I love talking and seeing what people can create together.

What are you reading right now? “The Spellmonger” series by Terry Mancour

What inspires your design? I really love to look to nature. Nature is really the best architect in the world and it has amazing shapes and forms that I think can really inform great designs.

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Blake Lively

 

Mae MurphyM1

Des Moines Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? Iowa State University

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Bachelor of Architecture, 2022

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? This is my first internship!

Where are you from? Des Moines, Iowa

One fun fact: I like to write, sew and make jewelry.

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  I like that we have the ability to express ourselves creatively and inspire others to do so as well.

What are you reading right now? “Becoming” by Michelle Obama

What inspires your design? I love how firms such as Atelier Bow Wow and MASS Design Group implement a large amount of community involvement and research.

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Jenna Fisher from The Office

 

Elizabeth MahrElizabeth 2

Cedar Rapids Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? Iowa State University

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Bachelor of Architecture, 2020

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? Architectural Intern at Aspect, Inc. in Cedar Rapids

Where are you from? Waukon, Iowa

One fun fact: I’m totally terrified of chickens.

What do you like about the architecture and design industry? Problem-solving.

What are you reading right now? “To Kill a Mockingbird”…again

What inspires your design? It changes every single day!

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Gwendoline Christie

 

Maddie BanyMad 1

Des Moines Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? Iowa State University

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Bachelor of Architecture, Expected Dec. 2019

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? Runner up for BWBR prize, Study Abroad in Rome Spring 2019

Where are you from? Cedar Rapids, Iowa

One fun fact: I’ve been to nine countries in the past seven months

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  The creativity and collaboration.

What are you reading right now? The last book I read was “If You Want to Build a House” by Elizabeth B. Mock

What inspires your design? Having reasons behind every choice I make.

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Lily James

 

Cody GoedkenCody 2

Cedar Rapids Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? Iowa State University

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Bachelor’s of Architecture – Professional Degree 2022

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? Some of my studio projects include an exploratory intervention in Kansas City, Missouri that activates an existing site in the city, along with a stadium seating sports bar that activates downtown Ames by bringing the college life to downtown.

Where are you from? Worthington, Iowa

One fun fact: I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. I also like fishing, sports, and deep, late night conversations.

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  I enjoy the creativity that is present with everything we do along with the studio atmosphere and culture that comes with it, and being able to utilize that creativity to generate designs where life happens.

What are you reading right now? I usually like to read things that either motivate me, get my creative juices flowing, make me laugh, or inspire me.

What inspires your design? I want to make spaces and things where life happens, encompassing what life should be like. I always look at things and think about what makes it great or what could be different.

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Bradley Cooper

 

Margaret GiesIn 1

Cedar Rapids Studio

What school are you attending/did you graduate from? University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Degree (s) and graduation year (s)? Architectural Studies and May 2020

Past experience/notable projects/senior thesis? For the past year I have done Undergraduate Research with the Nebraska College of Architecture.

Where are you from? Lincoln, Nebraska

One fun fact: I lived in North Carolina for over 12 years.

What do you like about the architecture and design industry?  I like how there is always something different to do everyday.

What are you reading right now? “Origins” by Dan Brown

What inspires your design? Theoretical ideas becoming architectural realities that benefit how we live in the world.

If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Sophie Turner