Hello everyone! My name is Lovemerry, and I am a senior studying Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh. I so excited to be participating in the International Internship Program this summer in Dublin, Ireland!
More About Me
My long-term academic goal is to pursue a master’s degree in Historic Preservation. After completing a few semesters of design-focused classes, I realized that I lean more towards the intersection of architecture, history, and storytelling, and specifically how preserving architecture actually preserves the stories and culture of its community. Therefore, I have been focusing more on research and writing-based projects in my last year here.
One major project that shaped my academic path was participating in the Archival Scholar Research Award program. I created both an independent research paper and a digital exhibit (which you can check out in the Hillman Library!) on the development of the Irish Nationality Room in the Cathedral of Learning. I spent a semester going through the University’s archives and drawing on the religious and political history of Ireland and Irish American immigrants to analyze the room’s design and make that information more accessible to a general audience.
My second project was participating in the Digital Atlas Internship through Pitt’s World History Center. I created an ESRI Story Map, which included a written narrative as well as GIS maps and photographs to map the influence of Irish immigrants and their labor on areas outside of the commonly reported United States, such as the Carribean and Australia. I am currently working on revising this project to get it published!
Why Dublin?
Many people chose their destination for the International Internship Program based on their personal heritage, or its connection to their career field. My story is a little different- a coworker of mine is on the Irish Nationality Room Committee and deeply involved with Irish culture and education. Her passion for the subject piqued my interest and that led to me to pursue some academic projects researching Irish architecture. When I found out about the International Internship Program, and I saw that one of the options was in Dublin, it was a no-brainer for me! It would be the perfect opportunity for me to connect my personal interests with my academic and professional goals.
I am also incredible grateful to have received a generous scholarship from the Irish Room Committee, through the NRIEP fund. I will be participating in a group poster-board presentation upon my arrival back to Pittsburgh in the Fall, where all recipients will be showcasing their experiences abroad. It feels very full circle to finally be able to visit the country that I have been researching so extensively!
Dublin is a great city to be doing an architecture internship in, especially as someone interested in historic preservation, because there is so much interaction between the new construction and older preserved buildings both in the city center and the surrounding suburbs. I also believe that I can learn a lot from the work culture in whatever firm I end up working for and will be able to take some of those lessons back home with me to provide a different perspective on future teams.
My Internship Placement
My provisional placement is with a boutique architecture firm based in Dublin. They are defined by their “whimsical” designs and diverse project portfolio. While the firm is relatively small, only employing a handful of architectural technicians and designers, they have an impressive amount of work under their belt, ranging from residential, to hospitality, to healthcare, to commercial. I believe this will be an ideal environment for me to get a broader view of the architecture industry, which is beneficial so early on in my career.
I am particularly excited about the chance to work in a completely different cultural context. I am curious to see how Irish design principles may differ from those which I am used to in the United States. I am also looking forward to learning how a small firm like this operates in Dublin day-to-day, because I will be able to compare it to work culture in the United States as well.
Looking Ahead
Personally, I am very excited to be living in a new city and practicing independence unlike any experience I have had before. I hope to spend my free time exploring Dublin’s different neighborhoods as well as the surrounding suburbs and even taking some weekend trips to other towns in the country to see all that Ireland has to offer. I am also looking forward to connecting with other students on the program, whether they are also from the architecture program at Pitt, or Pitt students with a completely different major, or students from other schools entirely!
I intend to keep up my regular sketchbook and journal practice and use those as spaces to observe and document the built environment during the program. I believe this will be beneficial both for my memory of my time in Dublin, but also to sharpen my observational and documentational skills which are key in my field.
Once again, I am incredible thankful to the School of Business, the Architecture Department, and the NRIEP program for making this experience possible. See you in Dublin!