Fall 2025 CPID Internships
This fall term—and possibly extending into the winter term—the CPID is partnering with Portland State Capital Projects & Construction and Opsis Architecture and offering two part-time, temporary internships for PSU Architecture students!
The ITECK Center project is the culmination of an ongoing partnership between the CPID and Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) program. Together our teams are bringing students into the design and construction processes on the Portland State Campus. This work will continue over the next 3+ years in a series of student design-build projects on the PSU Oak Savanna.
This internship will begin the week of September 22nd, 2025, and run until the end of the Construction Documentation phase of the project, likely in December 2025 or early 2026. Both positions described below will require ~20 hours per week, with some in-office time and some flexible time (see descriptions below) and pay $19/hour. Note that some weeks Interns may be asked to work slightly more than 20 hours, and some less as project needs vary. Preference will be given to currently enrolled PSU M.Arch and 3rd/4th year PSU undergraduate architecture students, though others (especially with professional experience) are invited to apply.
Applications will remain open until filled. Apply through Handshake at this link. Please direct questions via email to Eric Giovannetti at egio2@pdx.edu.
Design Team Intern
The Design Team Intern will work closely with the project architect advancing design details through the Design Development and Construction Document phases of the project. The Project Architect from Opsis will be working in the PSU co-location space in SRTC 2-3 days per week, and the Design Team Intern will coordinate with them to ensure most of their hours are performed in person with the Project Architect. The Design Team Intern will also be asked to participate in weekly OAC project meetings.
This role focuses on detail development and advancing both the Revit model of the project and detail drawings under the guidance of the Project Architect. Rendering in Enscape is also part of the Design Team Intern’s scope to support deliverable drawing sets at various design milestones. A great candidate will have experience in both Revit and Enscape in a professional setting, but experience in both programs through coursework is also acceptable. Guidance in either program is available, but due to the timeline of the project an ideal candidate will not require active training to use either software.
In addition to the design work, the Design Team Intern is expected to maintain communication with the Center for Public Interest Design’s team in ensuring that stakeholder values and goals are upheld in the design of the new ITECK Center. This may include occasional meetings, focus groups, and workshops with PSU community members. Experience with public interest design methodologies is a plus in this role.
Requirements:
Ability to work about 20 hours per week. Some weeks may ask for more time, and others may ask for less. The Design Team Intern may be asked to reduce hours significantly during breaks between design phases.
Ability to work in person in a PSU co-location space (in the SRTC building) with the Project Architect 2-3 days per week. These can be partial days depending on class schedule, with the goal of 4-6 hour work sessions. A work station can be provided in the co-location space.
Complete design “assignments” on personal time to complete ~20hr/wk and meet project timelines. The Design Team Intern will have access to the co-location space to use on their own time.
Experience using Revit and Enscape software. Preference for experience in an architect’s office producing 3D models, detail drawings, and renderings.
Prompt and reliable communication skills over email. Members of the project team will often work from different locations, so close attention to email and responding promptly as needed is essential.
Our team understands the demands of architecture school, and applicants are expected to communicate times they expect to be busy (ie leading up to midterm and final reviews) promptly and clearly.
Preference will be given to currently enrolled PSU Architecture students, especially M.Arch and 3rd/4th year undergraduates.
To apply, please submit the following on Handshake. Applications will close when the position has been filled.
Cover Letter (PDF, 1-pg max)
Resume/CV including relevant work and education experience (PDF)
OPTIONAL - Portfolio with relevant work shown (PDF, 10mb max.)
Sustainability Coordinator Intern
The ITECK Center project is seeking to achieve full Living Building Challenge certification, and aims for at least a Core certification in the year following completion of the renovation and expansion project. The Sustainability Coordinator Intern will be responsible for working with Opsis’s Sustainable Design Director to coordinate and complete work associated with achieving Living Building Challenge certification on this project. The Intern will support the Materials Petal by researching product compliance with the Red List, coordinating with manufacturers to gather documentation, and maintaining detailed tracking sheets to ensure the project meets LBC materials requirements, including evaluating and documenting embodied carbon impacts of material selections. The ideal candidate has a passion for achieving sustainability in architecture, is rigorous and detail-oriented, and has strong communication skills via email, phone, etc.
As part of achieving Living Building Challenge certification, our team’s goal is to incorporate ITECK and Native-inspired sustainability strategies. Part of the Sustainability Coordinator Intern’s responsibilities will include coordination with ITECK stakeholders under guidance of the CPID.
Due to the nature of Opsis’s Sustainable Design Director’s role, the Sustainability Coordinator Intern will be expected to work both virtually and in-person. This may include meetings in the PSU co-location space in SRTC, Zoom/Microsoft Teams meetings, and the option for work at the Opsis office if possible. Because of this, the ability to manage email communication promptly with multiple parties is essential. The Sustainability Coordinator Intern will also be asked to participate in weekly OAC project meetings
Requirements:
Strong communication skills via email, phone, virtual and in-person meeting.
Ability to problem-solve to achieve sustainability goals.
Familiarity with sustainability certification. Living Building Challenge experience preferred.
Experience with project coordination and tracking project progress across platforms preferred.
Ability to use the Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and Word.
Ability to work around 20 hours per week. Some weeks may ask for more time, and others may ask for less. The Sustainability Coordinator Intern may be asked to reduce hours significantly during breaks between design phases.
Ability to work in person in a PSU co-location space (in the SRTC building) and in a virtual/hybrid fashion. The ability to occasionally meet or work at the Opsis office in inner SE Portland is a plus. A work station can be provided in the co-location space.
Complete design “assignments” on personal time to complete ~20hr/wk and meet project timelines. The Sustainability Coordinator Intern will have access to the co-location space to use on their own time.
Prompt and reliable communication skills over email. Members of the project team will often work from different locations, so close attention to email and responding promptly as needed is essential.
Our team understands the demands of architecture school, and applicants are expected to communicate times they expect to be busy (ie leading up to midterm and final reviews) promptly and clearly.
Preference will be given to currently enrolled PSU Architecture students, especially M.Arch and 3rd/4th year undergraduates.
To apply, please submit the following on Handshake. Applications will close when the position has been filled.
Cover Letter (PDF, 1-pg max)
Resume/CV including relevant work and education experience (PDF)
OPTIONAL - Portfolio with relevant work shown (PDF, 10mb max.)