WHAt We Learned This Summer: An Intern Exposé

WHA’s Orange County office welcomed two Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) architecture students, Asli Sungur and José Lopez Arellano, for a summer internship. During the six-week program, Asli and José were immersed in all WHA has to offer between office and industry events, frame walks and product tours, and hands-on program training. The transition from a classroom to a full-service architecture firm offered invaluable lessons for implementing their school experiences to projects in the real world. Take a moment to hear from Asli and José  as they recount their time with WHA:

Asli’s Experience

Entering my fifth and final year in CPP’s architecture program, I had the opportunity to delve into various aspects of architecture with WHA’s production team and Rendering and Animation Studio. The program was meticulously organized to ensure that us interns gained the utmost benefit from the experience. And I must say, my time with WHA exceeded all my expectations and I am grateful for such a wonderful opportunity.

Collaborating with WHA’s Vice President of Architecture, Gary Cunningham, and the production team provided me with a deeper understanding of how projects go from schematic design to construction development. The team primarily focuses on creating construction document sets, so I was able to touch a range of drawings from electrical plans to elevations. I had the opportunity to join a frame walk during my second week when I observed the construction progress of the building we were working on. This hands-on site visit allowed me to grasp the practical side of architecture and observe the collaboration between architect, client, and consultants, which is often an experience that academic settings do not offer.

With the Rendering Studio, I learned WHA’s approach to 3D modeling and how it can be utilized in all stages of development. In addition to my daily work with both teams, I attended several meetings where I was able to connect and learn from knowledgeable professionals from all disciplines.

José’s Experience

As an architecture student, joining WHA’s Marketing department for the summer was quite exciting! I was offered a deeper understanding of the development process, and was able to witness the beginning stages of a project to then tour multiple finished communities. Understanding how to promote WHA’s final products, both within the office to staff and externally to clients and our general audience, was a skill that interested me and wanted to explore further before graduation.

Touring WHA’s designs at Solis Park in Irvine, the Village of Rienda in Rancho Mission Viejo, and Saddleback Place in Mission Viejo was the highlight of my internship since I was able to see the hard work of each WHA team member come to fruition. I also attended bi-weekly team meetings which offered me the unique opportunity to connect with and learn from WHA’s Founder and CEO, Bill Hezmalhalch, President, Fernando Laullon, and Vice President of Operations, Lorrie Gagné. The Marketing team showcased the importance of interacting with every team, all of which are very welcoming, within the office to strengthen relationships and to be in-the-know of all projects in the works. I was even invited to attend a BIAOC NextGen Advocacy Academy where I engaged with others in the industry who inspired me to be an active member of my city council meetings to support housing initiatives. This internship taught me so much from how to efficiently use Adobe Photoshop, develop website designs, and create brochures for the firm to use as a resource. As an architecture student, I was able to easily adapt to the language being used and utilize my previous software skills to create marketing material.

One of the highlights of our time with WHA was the incredible camaraderie that is evident within the office. We were warmly welcomed by all, and our colleagues went above and beyond to ensure we made the most of this learning experience. Each team member we encountered exhibited admirable manners and character, creating a positive work environment conducive to professional and personal growth. Overall, we both recommend WHA’s internship program to architecture students seeking a learning experience that will benefit both their education and future careers. We are thankful to WHA for offering us this opportunity and cannot wait to apply our new skills in our final year at CPP and beyond.