PRP Now! Ariana Hallenbeck // Perkins+Will
PRP Now! aims to showcase the great experiences students encounter within the Professional Residency Program. PRP offers upper-level architecture students a unique opportunity to expand their education through work experience in the architectural profession. Over the past twenty years, our students have been linked with 260 firms in 29 countries. We will feature a handful of students within each session, graduate and undergrad, domestic and international firms. PRP staff mostly recently had the pleasure to speak with Ariana Hallenbeck [B.Arch. '16] about her experience.
PRP: Tell us about your PRP firm. Where are you working?
I am working at the Dallas office of Perkins+Will. The Dallas location has about 150 employees and is organized in a studio format based on market sector. I am in the design studio. This particular studio handles a variety of work, allowing for individuals to get a feel of different project types. The design studio focuses on mainly SD and DD parts of a project, with members having a choice to follow the project through to its entirety or hop onto another emerging project. I have been able to work on projects that are in a variety of stages, including projects still in the pursuit stage to projects in the build out stage.
PRP: Do you enjoy the city you’re working in? Favorite aspects?
Well, I am actually from Dallas, but honestly it is great to be back! I usually come home to visit, but never for this length of time. I have been able to do many of the touristy types of things I never really appreciated before. Dallas is a pretty cool city that I think a lot of times doesn’t get enough credit. Austin is definitely cool, but Dallas is so big that there always seems like endless things to do. For me, getting to live at home and spend money on things other than rent has probably been the best aspect of being back in Dallas.
PRP: What is currently on your desk? What are you working on?
Let’s see. Besides all of the typical office supplies, I have a stack of test prints and sketches from previous renderings I had been working on for a hospital project in Oklahoma. I have a half size set of final drawing submissions for another hospital project in Fort Worth I made diagrams and site plans for to submit for a design awards. I also have sand paper, multiple scales, spray adhesive, foam blocks, and a protractor, all remaining from several different models I have worked on since being here, and of course, my morning cup of tea! This week I worked on some pretty cool black and white perspectives done for the headquarters for the Carrollton Police Department.
PRP: Describe the firm culture? The office atmosphere?
I feel like a lot of people have misconceptions about the office environments of “corporate” firms, but I’ve really enjoyed the atmosphere. The size doesn’t feel overwhelming and the resources available to employees at larger firms like free Rosetta Stone, Lynda.com, and reimbursements for testing (even as an intern!) are definitely an added bonus. The office has a committee that plans different events like happy hours, architecture tours, design competitions (Canstruction!), and sports games. I also got to attend the annual pool party at the director of the firm’s house. One word, amazing! The design group consists of a majority of younger people so they are always involved in the different office activities. I was able to attend the Dallas AIA Awards this week as well, so being able to be a part of that really helped me feel a part of the PW team. My favorite part is probably the office hours; extended hours M-Th but half days on Fridays! So, cheers to the (almost) start of my weekend!
PRP: What is the first thing you’ll tell your classmates upon return to UT?
I would tell any and every one to try and make it a priority to do residency. The opportunity to get real life working experience and be able to form professional connections while still in school is an invaluable opportunity. I know for me, it has helped me tremendously to better understand what post grad life will be like. Summer internships are great, but the extended period of time of residency really helps you to better understand what working full time will be like. You learn so much during residency that you can bring back into the studio atmosphere, whether that be new creative ways of modeling your ideas, or how to work more efficiently and clearer. I would also tell people to really think about your firm choices and what is driving them. For me, I chose Dallas because I knew I would be coming back here after I graduate, at least temporarily, so picked a location here in hopes it would open up the door to more opportunities in the future.
PRP: As you’re finishing up the week, what are your plans for this weekend?
Relaxing first and foremost! I just got back from a mini vacation in Los Angeles and before that I took a trip to Chicago to visit fellow Longhorn friends working at the PW there. September has been quite the busy month with traveling and deadlines so it will be nice to have a weekend where I can slow things down a bit! But, I am going to the fair, and maybe the zoo depending on the weather. TX-OU weekend is commencing, so it should be a pretty fun weekend. Hook-em!
PRP: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
I got to meet one of my favorite architects while here, actually the first African American architect I’ve even met outside of school. A lot of what I am passionate about is the status of diversity within the profession of architecture, especially in relation to people of color. So for me, being able to meet an AA architect, and an architect leading in the profession has definitely been one of the most impactful experiences while here. I say this to show that anything can happen during residency. It is such an important opportunity that a lot of other schools don’t really offer. Take advantage of that. Residency is a very motivating experience that really gets you thinking about your professional success, and allows you to learn from a lot of very talented people.