HB Construction Internships

Building on a unique learning experience

As blueprints and plans were finalized for the Classic Building’s construction and renovation projects, another opportunity took shape — a way to put knowledge in action for Upper School students interested in architecture, construction, and sustainability. Torrey McMillan ’90, HB’s Director of Fellowships in Sustainability, partnered with construction manager The Albert M. Higley Co.’s (AMHigley) Sadie Miller, Project Engineer, to design a one-of-a-kind construction internship for students. Applications were open to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, and, to date, 11 have participated. “I had such a great experience working with Sadie, AMHigley, and Ms. McMillan for the internship!” said Kaila Morris ’22. “Having a behind-the-scenes look at the campus renovations really added to my understanding of the work required to transform an older building into a more modern and efficient one. It gave me a new appreciation of the construction and architecture industries.”

The internship was offered during summer 2020, the 2020-2021 school year and will, once again, be offered in summer 2021. While summer interns got full days on campus working with Miller on construction management projects and documenting the renovations, school-year interns gathered weekly in-person or remotely for mini-lessons on green building design and sustainability from McMillan. Among many topics, they discussed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building standards, thermal imaging, and the pros and cons of renovations versus new construction.

“I get really excited when I think about the range of ideas, issues, and building techniques in which the interns have been exposed,” said McMillan. “It has been a really rich experience to pair these conversations with the hands-on experience they get with Sadie and AMHigley.” Morris agrees. “The added educational component, where we learned about the conjunction of construction and sustainability, was especially enlightening as a Sustainability Fellow. I never realized the complexities that come with doing the right thing, and it’s been amazing to see how HB is mindful on the environmental front.”

For the second half of class, the students headed to the temporary AMHigley trailer where Miller’s office is located. That’s when things got really hands on as the students learned to read blueprints. “I had no idea how many blueprints there would be - from architectural to electrical to plumbing,” said Tayler Chauvette ’22.

The interns conducted daily walkthroughs of the project to identify issues in the field. When necessary, Miller taught the girls how to complete a Request for Information (RFI) that would be submitted to an engineer or architect

for further evaluation. They would also offer a fresh eye in identifying tiny details — for example, a missing window blind or a wall that required cleaning. “If you’ve ever done a home renovation, you know that there are always surprises,” Miller remarked. The students also got involved in designing signage for the project. Sophy Gao ‘23 utilized her skills from owning her own sticker business to design a graphic for use in wayfinding signage. A sticker was also presented to all workers on the job to wear on their badge signifying they had completed all appropriate background checks and training protocols. “When I was originally designing the sticker, I had no idea that it would be so widely used throughout the school and construction site,” said Sophy. “I feel really lucky to have contributed to the process in a new and creative way.” Taking advantage of the unique learning experience was a win-win for all, both the interns and AMHigley. “I’ve really enjoyed working with the girls,” Miller said. “It’s insane how smart they are! They were always really ambitious and always ready to learn.” For the students, it was special to be part of something that will remain even after they graduate. “I really like that I’ve been helping with something that will impact my fellow students now and the students to come,” Chauvette said.