Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Intern Architect

🎯 Role Definition

The Intern Architect (architecture intern) supports licensed architects and project teams through hands-on participation in design development, technical documentation, visualization and coordination with consultants and contractors. This role is ideal for architecture students or recent graduates seeking practical experience with AutoCAD, Revit/BIM, construction documentation, and collaborative studio workflows. Responsibilities emphasize producing clear drawings, developing concept and design studies, assisting with code research and material specification, and learning professional practice under supervision.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Architecture student (B.Arch or M.Arch program) seeking practical studio experience
Recent graduate with a portfolio and academic studio projects
CAD/BIM technician or design intern transitioning to professional architecture roles

Advancement To:

Junior Architect / Architectural Designer
Architectural Technologist or BIM Coordinator
Project Architect (with licensure and experience)

Lateral Moves:

Visualization Specialist / 3D Renderer
Project Coordinator or Architectural Project Manager
Sustainability/LEED Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Assist in the development of conceptual design, schematic design and design development packages by producing sketches, digital studies, and iterative presentations that align with project goals, client briefs, and code constraints.
Prepare accurate and production-ready CAD drawings and Revit/BIM models for plans, elevations, sections and details; manage drawing standards, layer conventions, and file organization under the direction of senior architects.
Support the creation of construction documentation, including detailed working drawings, annotated details, schedules and specification reference lists, ensuring information is coordinated and consistent across drawing sets.
Produce high-quality 3D visualizations, renderings and physical or digital models to communicate design intent for client presentations, internal reviews and public consultations.
Participate in project team meetings, client meetings and consultant coordination sessions, taking clear notes, tracking action items and following up to ensure deliverables are completed on schedule.
Perform site visits and field measurements under supervision; document existing conditions, verify dimensions, photograph site contexts, and report discrepancies to the project lead for incorporation into drawings.
Research and apply building codes, zoning regulations and accessibility requirements to support code-checking exercises and identify potential compliance risks early in the design process.
Assist with material research and specification: collect product data, prepare comparative matrices, create sample boards and support the specification of finishes, fixtures and building systems in coordination with senior staff.
Collaborate with engineers (structural, MEP) and specialty consultants to coordinate BIM models, resolve clashes and integrate technical systems into architectural documentation.
Maintain and update project filing systems (digital and physical), ensure version control of drawings and models, and archive project documentation according to office standards.
Help prepare permit application packages by compiling drawings, schedules, code analysis documentation and any required forms, and support revisions prompted by authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) reviews.
Support cost-awareness by producing measured drawings, take-offs or assisting cost consultants with drawing clarification items to help maintain project budgets.
Contribute to QA/QC reviews of drawing sets by checking dimensions, annotations, drawing references and consistency across sheets to minimize errors prior to issue or printing.
Draft RFI responses and addenda content under supervision, compiling necessary drawings, sketches and clarifications to support contractor questions during procurement or construction phases.
Assist in the development and maintenance of office BIM standards, families, templates and component libraries to improve workflow efficiency and maintain model consistency.
Create presentation materials, boards, diagrams and graphics with clear narratives that help non-technical stakeholders understand design decisions and project impact.
Undertake precedent research and site analysis, synthesizing findings into concise reports, diagrams and concept diagrams that inform design directions.
Support sustainability and performance analysis tasks, such as daylight studies, simple energy modeling, material lifecycle research or passive design strategies in collaboration with sustainability leads.
Participate in drawing coordination and mark-up sessions, applying redlines from senior architects and incorporating changes into updated drawing sets while tracking revisions.
Assist with project permitting and closeout workflows, compiling as-built drawings, operation manuals and warranty documentation as directed during project delivery.
Contribute to office initiatives such as internal project shows, knowledge-sharing workshops and technology trials (new software/plugins) that enhance team capabilities.
Engage in professional development by seeking feedback, refining technical skills and building a portfolio of completed tasks, deliverables and design studies for future career growth.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc research requests, including precedent case studies, code interpretation summaries and product data compilation that inform project decision-making.
Help maintain studio resources, materials libraries and model-making supplies to ensure smooth running of project tasks and client presentations.
Contribute to cross-disciplinary planning by preparing layout options, furniture plans and basic lighting/fixture coordination for interior studies.
Assist with administrative tasks related to project delivery, such as updating project schedules, tracking deliverables and preparing meeting materials.
Participate in office marketing and recruitment activities by preparing portfolio extracts, project summaries and social media-ready imagery when requested.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Revit / BIM proficiency — ability to model architectural components, produce coordinated views and manage basic family creation and parameter use.
AutoCAD (2D drafting) — competent in producing clear, accurate technical drawings, annotations and layout sheets.
Construction documentation — experience or demonstrated ability to prepare construction drawings, details and schedules per office standards.
3D modeling — experience with SketchUp, Rhino or similar tools to develop conceptual models and iterative massing studies.
Rendering and visualization — working knowledge of V-Ray, Enscape, Lumion, Blender or similar for producing client-ready imagery.
Adobe Creative Suite — proficiency in Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator for layout, presentation and image editing tasks.
Technical drawing and detailing — understanding of construction detailing, materials, tolerances and how to represent assemblies graphically.
Code and zoning research — ability to perform basic searches of building codes, local zoning rules and accessibility standards and summarize implications for design.
Model coordination / clash detection — familiarity with model coordination workflows and basic clash identification between architectural and engineering models.
Microsoft Office / Collaboration tools — adept at Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and collaboration platforms (Teams, Slack, Google Workspace) for documentation and communication.
Hand drawing and sketching — capable of producing legible conceptual sketches and hand-annotated details to communicate ideas in studio sessions.
Digital fabrication and model making — basic skills in physical model making, laser cutting, 3D printing or CNC workflows are a plus for rapid prototyping.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication — able to explain design decisions clearly to team members, clients and consultants.
Collaboration and teamwork — comfortable working in multi-disciplinary teams and incorporating feedback from senior staff and consultants.
Time management and organization — capable of prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines and managing multiple small deliverables within project timelines.
Attention to detail — meticulous about drawing accuracy, annotation consistency and dimensional coordination.
Problem-solving and resourcefulness — proactive in identifying issues, proposing practical solutions and escalating appropriately.
Adaptability and learning agility — eager to learn new tools, workflows and best practices in a fast-paced office environment.
Client-facing professionalism — able to present work professionally in meetings and respond to client feedback with composure and clarity.
Visual storytelling — capacity to craft compelling narratives through drawings, diagrams and presentation materials.
Critical thinking — interpret project constraints and contribute constructive alternatives during design reviews.
Work ethic and initiative — self-motivated to seek responsibility, follow through on tasks and contribute positively to office culture.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an accredited Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), Master of Architecture (M.Arch), or related architectural design program.

Preferred Education:

Progress toward professional licensure (NCARB experience sequence or local equivalents) or a graduate degree in architecture.
Additional certifications or coursework in BIM management, sustainability (LEED), or digital fabrication preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Architecture (B.Arch, M.Arch)
Architectural Technology / Architectural Engineering
Interior Architecture / Environmental Design
Urban Design or related design disciplines

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0 to 2 years (student internships, co-op terms, or entry-level studio experience)

Preferred:

1+ internship terms or practical studio experience producing drawings, models and presentation materials in a professional architecture practice.
Demonstrable portfolio of academic and/or professional projects that shows technical competence, design thinking and proficiency with relevant software tools.