Program
Arch/Design High School Internships
The BSA and BSA Foundation aim to create opportunities for local students to build awareness about architecture while exploring potential career paths. By partnering with the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), the BSA is able to connect interested Boston Public School (BPS) students with paid career exploration and internship opportunities for the duration of their high school careers.
The Architecture/Design High School Internship provides public high school students with the opportunity to explore architecture through a six-week immersion at local architecture firms. Students represent a variety of BPS high schools and range from rising 10th-grade students to newly graduated. With participating firms ranging in size, approach, and focus, returning interns experience a unique perspective on architecture each summer.
This program is the annual culmination of BSA's partnership with the PIC (2017-present), matching architecture firms in the BSA's network with students interested in architecture/design. Each architecture placement is also part of the City of Boston's Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program, an initiative that aims to place 8,000 Boston youth in paid opportunities each summer.
To supplement the weekly internship (Monday-Thursday), participating interns now benefit from an enhanced Summer Fridays series (2018-present) developed by the BSA. Through 6 weeks, students engage with architecture in the city through neighborhood tours before rounding out with a firm crawl and share out.
Evolving each year, the Architecture/Design High School Internship connects students with real-world paths to the profession, firms with the next generation, and like-minded design education providers with one another.
2024
Dates
Application Opens: February 23, 2024
Internship Fair: April 24, 2024
Internship: July 8-August 16, 2024
Location
Local architecture firms
Program
Type
Internship
Grade Levels
9-12, Boston Public Schools
Timeframe
2018-present
Timeline
January-March: Firm interest and intake
February: Student applications launch
March-June: Internship planning
April-May: Student interviews and hiring
July-August: Internship and Summer Fridays
September: Firm Debriefs
October-January: Cross-firm support
Collaborators
Partner
Boston Private Industry Council
Host Firms
Bergmeyer
Elkus Manfredi Architects
Finegold Alexander Architects
Goody Clancy
HMFH Architects
Leers Weinzapfel Associates
Page
Payette
RODE Architects
Student Involvement
Applications are accepted annually through the PIC. Students must be enrolled at a Boston Public School high school to apply. Application information is added each February.
Firm Involvement
Interested in hosting a high school internship at your firm next summer or learning more about the program? The BSA and PIC are here to help, as well as a network of firms currently hosting internships.
Not able to hire, but interested in getting involved? Consider supporting the program as a non-host firm by sponsoring supplementary intern activities or participating in our Summer Fridays activities.
Support
Thank you to all the firms who have participated and supported the development of this program. To support this and other K-12 programs, consider donating to the BSA Foundation.
K-12 Design Education
Questions about the Architecture/Design High School Internship or other K-12 Design Education programs? Feel free to reach out to Design Education and Engagement Manager, Taylor Johnson, [email protected].
