Cumming’s Internship Program
Introducing Irmak Sener
How did you first learn about our intern program?
Last spring, I received an email from Pratt’s Graduate Architecture and Urban Design Department which said that Addie Duplissie-Johnson, a Pratt alumni working for Lehrer Cumming, was looking for a summer intern to work on the Javits Convention Center expansion project. I have always been interested in project management, so I applied for the job as soon as I received the email.
How long have you been interning with us?
Last year, I worked between May and August and this year I have been working since June 15th.
What exciting projects are you working on?
I am working on the Javits Convention Center expansion project in New York City. Once complete, it will have a 500,000 square feet of brand new contiguous exhibit space, new meeting rooms, a 54,000-square-foot special event space, a rooftop pavilion, a greenhouse, and a one-acre rooftop farm.
What do you like most about your internship?
The Javits Convention Center expansion project is design-build, so I really like to observe the construction phase as much as the design phase. As a third-year M.Arch student, I get to learn every aspect of project management. We learn how to design a building in school, but we usually don’t have the chance to witness how many people are behind the curtains trying to fix any problem that might occur throughout the construction stage, and how they stay within the budget while fixing those problems.
Do you have a vision of where you will be in 5 years? If so, explain.
In five years, I would like to be seen as someone with deep expertise in the project management sector. I am also very excited to take on more managerial responsibilities in the next few years and potentially even take the lead on some projects. I have been lucky enough to work with some amazing managers, and so developing into a great project manager myself is something I am really looking forward to.