Meet The 2024 KSS Interns
August 2, 2024
Meet our 2024 Summer Interns! As summer draws to a close, we at KSS are excited to highlight the incredible experiences and insights shared by our talented group of interns. It has been an absolute joy to welcome these six bright individuals to our team. Thank you for spending your summer with us—we can't wait to see all the amazing things you will achieve and the valuable contributions you will make to the profession in the future!
- Alexia Tan
- Isabel Baum
- Julius Quartey-Papafio
- Madhumita Srinivasan
- Teeshane Shah
- Zachary Beim
Alexia Tan
Carnegie Mellon University, Bachelor of Architecture
Class of 2025
Interviewer
Do you have a go-to song or playlist to help you get through the day?
Alexia
My go to playlist would be my k-rnb playlist with chill songs that is relaxing to listen while I work. Although when it gets closer to the end of the week, I will switch to more upbeat songs to motivate me into the weekend!
Interviewer
When not at KSS, what do you like to do?
Alexia
Outside of KSS, I like to go on small trips and explore new places around New Jersey and New York with my friends!
Interviewer
What project stands out that you’ve worked on at KSS?
Alexia
I worked on the Hamburg Project, Active Adult Housing Development, where I learned new programs while working closely with the team on different aspects such as renderings, plans, and 3D modeling. Each conversation gave me insight to the process and taught me something new whether it is the reasoning behind design choices or how a project is communicated to not only the internal team when working with others on a project.
Interviewer
What has been the most enjoyable part of your experience at KSS thus far?
Alexia
I think the most enjoyable has to be the people that I am working with. I met and became good friends with the other intern in Princeton, Madhu, where we often would help each other out in the office along with hanging out outside of work. Not only that, all of my colleagues were all so kind since the beginning of my internship and gave me a lot of guidance throughout the projects I had worked on! I appreciate the enjoyable experience I have had here!
Isabel Baum
Tulane University, Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Real Estate
Class of 2025
Interviewer
Do you have a go-to song or playlist to help you get through the day?
Isabel
I enjoy listening to the playlists my colleagues curate with our weekly music league prompts.
Interviewer
When not at KSS, what do you like to do?
Isabel
When I am not interning at KSS I enjoy attending a Pilates class, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, or spending time on the beach with family and friends.
Interviewer
What project stands out that you’ve worked on at KSS?
Isabel
A project that stands out to me that I've worked on at KSS is Belmont Park Village. Belmont Park Village is a highly sustainable retail project that treats a collective group of buildings as one open mall to create an immersive shopping experience. This project stands out to me because it is the largest-scale project I have worked on, and I have enjoyed learning about the project's construction and seeing it through to the end result. This is a unique project for the firm because everyone on the New York team has contributed to the project in some way. I look forward to visiting the site when it opens later this year!
Interviewer
What has been the most enjoyable part of your experience at KSS thus far?
Isabel
I really enjoyed the work culture at KSS and the incredible people I met and worked with this summer. I've had the privilege of learning from an amazing group of people in the New York office. The site visits have been particularly enlightening, providing a unique opportunity to see the projects I was working on in person and continue to learn while on-site. These visits have truly enhanced my understanding and appreciation of our work.
Julius Quartey-Papafio
University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Architecture
Class of 2025
Interviewer
What’s your go-to office snack or beverage when you’re feeling peckish or stressed?
Julius
Water, it is important to stay hydrated.
Interviewer
When not at KSS, what do you like to do?
Julius
Alot of sleeping and eating.
Interviewer
Why did you choose to intern at KSS?
Julius
The atmosphere is positive, and everyone seems to have good energy
Interviewer
What project stands out that you’ve worked on at KSS?
Julius
The experimental puppet art competition has been a stand-out project for me. Having never done a competition or a project outside of the country, the experience was fast-paced, which was fun, and I gained a great deal of knowledge.
Madhumita Srinivasan
Virginia Tech, Bachelor of Architecture
Class of 2025
Interviewer
Do you have a go-to song or playlist to help you get through the day?
Madhu
I kind of go crazy and listen to my liked songs on shuffle. I like how I never know what I'm about to listen to and I can think back to the time in my life when I added that song to my likes. I use Spotify's smart shuffle feature which is fun because it throws in songs that are similar to my vibe that I've never listened to before.
Interviewer
What’s your go-to office snack or beverage when you’re feeling peckish or stressed?
Madhu
Black coffee but sometimes I'll add hazelnut creamer when I'm feeling extra tired.
Interviewer
What project stands out that you’ve worked on at KSS?
Madhu
I have enjoyed working on the Hamburg project. It was interesting to see how much back and forth needed to happen. There was a point where I thought most of the iterating was done, but two months later, we changed up the site plan and got rid of an entire building. I like the relationship that KSS has with their clients and consultants. They seem very comfortable keeping in touch throughout their projects and you can see it translate into their designs.
Interviewer
What’s something that has challenged you in your work at KSS?
Madhu
One thing I am glad KSS has challenged me to do is communicate my ideas in a professional setting. It feels slightly different than doing it in a studio setting so it's nice to get experience with that before entering my last year of college.
Interviewer
What’s something that you’ve overheard in the office that has stood out to you?
Tee
During a conversation with Scot (partner with KSS), I discovered his deep-seated passion for running, a pursuit he's embraced for nearly a decade. His commitment to this passion was both inspiring and thought-provoking. Curious about the secret to his enduring enthusiasm, I asked him what kept him motivated. Without missing a beat, he answered, "joy." This simple yet profound response resonated deeply with me. It made me reflect on how essential it is to engage in activities that bring us true joy. Through joy, we uncover layers of our character that might otherwise remain hidden. Our site visit at Belmont Park Village reinforced the idea that life's most meaningful experiences often stem from our pursuit of what genuinely delights us, leading to a richer, more authentic understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.
Interviewer
Why did you choose to intern with KSS?
Tee
I chose to intern at KSS Architects because I am deeply inspired by the firm’s commitment to fostering meaningful human connections and creating vibrant, enriching communities through design. KSS Architects’ vision of architecture as a catalyst for positive change aligns perfectly with my values and aspirations. This synergy between my personal goals and the firm's mission makes KSS Architects the ideal place for me to grow and contribute as an intern.
Interviewer
What has been the most enjoyable part of your experience at KSS thus far?
Tee
Although I’ve enjoyed all the tasks and projects at KSS, from the summer housing initiative to creating drawing renderings, the site visits have been the most rewarding part of my internship. I had the chance to participate in three site visits, which were incredibly insightful. I learned how punch lists are prepared as projects near completion, which involves addressing final issues to ensure everything meets quality standards. Observing the construction of seemingly simple elements like walls revealed the complex layers and details involved. Additionally, I gained an understanding of how design changes are coordinated on-site and the importance of effective communication among trades. These visits also highlighted the critical aspects of safety and compliance. Overall, the site visits greatly enhanced my practical knowledge and appreciation of the architectural process.
Interviewer
What’s something that has challenged you in your work at KSS?
Tee
Tight deadlines. I've really improved my time management skills by working with tight deadlines. These challenges have pushed me to perform at my best and produce meaningful results. One key lesson I've learned is the importance of including buffer time in my schedule. This extra time allows for updates or changes before a deadline, ensuring that I can meet submission requirements and avoid potential delays, especially in team projects.
Zachary Beim
Columbia University, Masters of Architecture
Class of 2026
Interviewer
What’s your go-to office snack or beverage when you’re feeling peckish or stressed?
Zach
My favorite office snack is leftover MMM (Monday Morning Meeting) muffins.
Interviewer
When not at KSS, what do you like to do?
Zach
When not at KSS, I enjoy hiking, fishing, and camping.
Interviewer
Why did you choose to return to intern with KSS?
Zach
I have about 3 1/2 years of experience at the firm including past internships and full-time work, I love the environment and the people and can’t imagine working anywhere else!
Interviewer
What’s something that has challenged you in your work at KSS?
Zach
There are so many ways to put together a detail drawing, but learning best practices has been my goal and so many people at KSS have taken the time to help explain to me why things are done certain ways, so I challenge myself to truly understand the conditions I draw and the logic behind our decisions in order to improve my overall construction knowledge.
