From Studio to On Site: PGAL Interns See Design Come to Life

At PGAL, internships are about more than gaining experience in the office. They’re about understanding how ideas become reality.

This summer, interns from PGAL’s Austin office stepped onto the construction site of Texas State University’s new STEM Classroom Building, where they experienced firsthand how a project evolves from drawings and digital models into a building that will serve students for years to come.

For many of the interns, the visit brought their everyday work into focus. Details they had studied on screen suddenly became clearer when viewed at full scale, from the building’s exterior to the public spaces that will connect students, faculty, and visitors.

For interior design intern Liliana, the experience highlighted the collaboration required to bring a complex project to life. Observing conversations between the design and construction teams gave her a new appreciation for the level of coordination behind every decision, while seeing a full-scale mock-up of the building’s exterior demonstrated the careful planning and testing that takes place before construction moves forward.

Architecture intern, Dylan, found that walking through the building transformed concepts from the classroom into something tangible. Experiencing the scale of the project firsthand and seeing building systems before they were concealed gave him a deeper understanding of how design decisions come together during construction.

“It’s one thing to learn in class, but it’s another to apply what I’ve learned and see the results,” he said.

After spending part of the summer supporting the Texas State project, Claire reflected on how seeing the building in person helped her better understand the decisions she had been working on while also providing insight from the engineers and construction team.

“I loved that they took us through a day of meetings and the walkthrough,” she said. “It was great to visit the site since I’ve been so immersed in this project while being here.”

The site visit reflected the broader internship experience at PGAL, where students gain exposure to every stage of the design process. Throughout the summer, interns have contributed to active projects, collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, attended client meetings, and developed technical skills through meaningful project work.

Liliana said one of the things she’s appreciated most is getting to explore different aspects of the profession without feeling boxed into a single role. “I’ve never felt limited or isolated from the rest of the team,” she shared. Dylan echoed that sentiment, noting how rewarding it’s been to take what he’s learned in school and actually apply it to real projects. For Claire, the variety has been a highlight; one day she’s modeling in Rhino or helping with 3D printing, and the next she’s working through ASIs and RFIs or contributing during project meetings.

Experiences like these are an important part of the PGAL internship program. By connecting studio work with real-world construction, interns gain a deeper understanding of the design process, build meaningful relationships with project teams, and leave with a clearer picture of what it means to shape the built environment.

Read more about our internship program here.