Thank you so much RODE architect for spending time on hosting us! I am very appreciated! It was such a wonderful week before the school starts.

My externship partners, Minerva and Baha from BAC, are both energetic students. Everyone actively participates in Externship activities, communicates with the staff in RODE, shares their experiences in architecture, and communicates with the people in the company. I am glad to know Minerva and Baha, who are passionate about the construction industry through participating in Externship!

Our mentor, Ruthie, has a strong background on Architecture and Engineering. As a registered architect in Massachusetts, she has the ability to handle projects of different sizes, and also bring some engineering background in. I am glad to have Ruthie as our mentor to explain the characteristics of each project and the details that need to be noted. Ruthie has never been stingy in sharing what she knows, and she patiently answers our questions when taking us to visit projects under construction, bringing me more knowledge that school cannot learn.

The diagram workshop of RODE is a great learning opportunity. Everyone is discussing together about how to use diagrams to make everyone's work more efficient. The project manager and the staff responsible for creating the diagram both participate and provide feedback, which is a great way to share experience and improve the efficiency of a project.

Our supervisor, Ruthie, is like a superhero. She made sure we got the most out of this learning adventure. We did all sorts of cool stuff and talked about designs at every step of the way. Imagine getting to join in on those creative chats!

I've got to send a big thank you to Ruthie and the whole RODE Architects crew. They gave us, the BAC students, an unbelievably awesome chance to learn and grow. I can't help but look ahead and dream about meeting them again someday. Who knows, maybe we'll team up once more?

A remarkable mentor assumes the role of a knowledgeable and compassionate guide, offering a blend of expertise and empathy. They provide invaluable constructive feedback, assist in setting meaningful goals, and encourage mentees to step beyond their comfort zones, all while embodying positive conduct for emulation. This mentorship dynamic thrives as a nurturing, mutual relationship, wherein the mentor imparts their wisdom and proficiency. In turn, they cultivate the mentee's personal growth, refine their skills, and instill the confidence needed to realize their aspirations.

In the context of an architectural office at RODE, an exemplary mentor like Ruthie exemplifies cooperative leadership. Ruthie draws from her wealth of experience to offer wise insights, serving as a reliable compass for maneuvering through the intricacies of design challenges and project nuances. This cooperative mentorship approach creates an atmosphere that uplifts and inspires. Ruthie's mentorship cultivates skill development and cultivates a sense of self-assurance among mentees. This environment becomes a breeding ground for innovative thought, where fresh ideas are nurtured and given space to flourish.

Client: Transom Real Estate

282 Bremen Street is situated at the intersection of lush greenspace and the urban core of East Boston, presenting both opportunities and challenges for a mixed-use structure. To tackle this, we extensively examined site limitations, local architecture, and community impact. The design mirrors the area's rhythm, with the building's scale, rooflines, and materials drawing inspiration from the existing three-story, multifamily homes. The innovative concept accommodates 139 residential units, including 13 artist-specific ones, along with communal artist areas. A street-level retail space and art workspace enrich the ground floor. The building's setback enhances walkability, while elevated features ensure resilience against floods and future climate impacts.

Our day started with a meeting for the design team to get ready for the next day's presentation. It is good to understand how team members are sharing their ideas and figure it out that what needs to be modified. After that, Ruthie took us to 282 Bremen project, which is a multi family building that located in East Boston. It is my first time visiting multi family construction site. I got a chance to understand the layout of different units.

The Cambria project inspired me that designing with client's branding combines with local inspiration is important.

Also we had a chance to talk to Rakshit, who is master student at the BAC, he shared a lot about his own experience working at RODE, and his advice on how to balance work and study as well.