PRP Now! Sophia Callahan // HDR

Tell us about your PRP firm. Where are you working?

I am working at HDR Atlanta. The office is located in Midtown, across the street from Piedmont Park, with lots of access to cool things in the city!

Do you enjoy the city you're working in? Favorite aspects?

I didn’t know much about Atlanta before I moved here, but I love it! It’s a very young, lively city with lots of activities and ways to meet people. My favorite part is how close it is to the mountains, and I’m enjoying getting to experience fall!

What is currently on your desk? What are you working on?

Currently I’m working on a hospital project that just entered the Design Development phase, and an interactive masterplan for an existing hospital system. It’s been really interesting to get a better understanding of the way that projects change and develop as they enter into new stages of the process. 

Describe the firm culture. The office atmosphere?

The architecture team is small enough that everyone knows each other, which makes for a great firm culture. Most people in the office work on healthcare or lab related projects, and it’s easy to see how passionate they are about the impact of their work. Everyone is very approachable and willing to help, and I’ve learned so much since coming here. There is a great team of young professionals that get together outside of work, and I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know them and becoming part of that community. 

What is the first thing you'll tell your classmates upon your return to UT?

How fun Atlanta is! I’ve been on so many cool hikes, met so many people, and gotten to really explore the area that surrounds the city. 

As you're finishing up the week, what are your plans for this weekend?

I don’t have any big plans for this weekend, but this past weekend I drove up to the Great Smoky Mountains (only 3 hours from Atlanta) to go hiking! It was my first time going to a national park and it was very beautiful; I even bumped into a few UT fans on the trail!