Building My Future: A Summer Internship At LMA-Architecture
At LMA-Architecture, we believe in nurturing the next generation of design talent, and this summer, we had the pleasure of hosting Abigail as our summer intern. A rising third-year Architecture student at the University of Virginia, minoring in Global Sustainability and Astronomy, we’re incredibly proud of her work and excited to share her perspective on a summer spent with our team.
As Abigail heads back to UVA for her third year, her experience this summer has been especially meaningful. With Leesa having navigated the same academic journey at UVA, their mentorship and advice have provided “incredibly insightful and encouraging” guidance for her future in the field. This continuity, from high school inspiration to summer internship and ongoing mentorship, highlights the enduring connections we value.
Mentorship in Winchester
I grew up in Winchester, just a few minutes’ walk from the LMA-Architecture office. I’d been interested in architecture from a young age. I loved art and enjoyed math, so when my middle school geometry teacher suggested I take Technical Drawing and Design in high school, I jumped at the chance. I ended up loving it, which led me to enroll in Architectural Drawing and Design the following year. There, I got to work with professional software and learn about the field firsthand, even from a local licensed architect.
That architect was Leesa Mayfield from LMA-Architecture. The way she spoke about her experience in the profession inspired me to pursue architecture more seriously.
I went on to do an architectural internship with the Army Corps of Engineers in high school and was later accepted into the Architecture program at the University of Virginia, where I’m now going into my third year.
Real-World Design Experience
After my first year at UVA, I remembered Leesa’s advice and insight, so I reached out to ask if I could shadow her for a week that summer. I enjoyed that experience so much that I eagerly asked to come back for a full internship this summer. There’s so much about the profession that studio classes alone can’t teach you, but every day at LMA, I’m learning more about design and what my future career might look like.
This internship has given me valuable hands-on experience with professional architectural software, tools I will continue to use in my future career. I’ve learned to translate insights from client meetings and building codes into designs ready for real-world application.
I followed a project through every stage of development, from initial client meetings to near-completed construction. This experience deepened my understanding of the design process as one rooted in collaboration, consensus, and at times, compromise. It was fascinating to observe how conceptual sketches evolve, how abstract boxes on paper gain program and form, eventually transforming into detailed plans that communicate construction intent. Perhaps most rewarding, however, was recognizing completed projects in real life that I had previously only seen on paper.
