Alexia Salafia ’22, an architectural design + technology major, is interning at residential firm George Penniman Architects in Essex, Conn., this summer. At the internship, she has had the opportunity to go into the field and measure homes to make existing condition drawings for the architects at the firm. Her work is helping these professionals with the design phase for various home development and renovation projects.
One of the most rewarding experiences for Salafia was working with an architect who designed a new home. Salafia took the design from 2D AutoCAD drawings and transferred them into 3D format in SketchUp, a modeling software she uses in her classes, then rendered them in Enscape, another software for real-time visualization and virtual reality used in her classes. She is noticing just how much she is taking from her coursework into her day-to-day experience at the internship. She has even explored additional home design projects, from working on detail sections to helping complete an electrical plan to conducting interior elevations for a new design, and even formatting projects into presentation drawing sets for marketing purposes.
When asked how UHart has prepared her for this internship, Salafia says she has found the many career events offered at the University to be beneficial for students. Specifically, this past spring semester, the student-led architecture clubs came together for the first-ever career week hosted by Associate Professor of Architecture Elizabeth Petry. There were many sessions during the career week that helped students like Salafia learn how to put a portfolio of original work together and how to become certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
Salafia is pursuing a degree in architecture because of her long-term interest in the subject. “It’s something I’ve been interested in since middle school,” she says. “I always knew I wanted to design, and I was thrilled to discover I could pursue what I love in the field of architecture.”
UHart was the school for her because it wasn’t too far from home and Salafia says she knew she wouldn’t be “just a number” here. She was also impressed when she met so many driven students and knew this was where she wanted to be. Finally, throughout her time at the University, Salafia says she has had some inspiring professors in the Department of Architecture.
Alexia Salafia ’22, architectural design + technologyMany of my professors have really helped guide my creative process here, through desk critiques or even just lending a hand, even when I wasn’t currently in their course. I also genuinely appreciate the strong relationships I have built with many of my professors that I hope to keep throughout my professional career.
Along with her academic success, Salafia has stayed involved on campus. Specifically, she is a member of the three architecture clubs on campus: American Institute of Architecture Students, National Organization of Minority Architects, and Women in Architecture and Design (WAD). She served as the treasurer for WAD her sophomore and junior year, and will be holding the position as president as she approaches her senior year. Salafia says she hopes through this role that she, along with the rest of the club’s executive board, can “make change and inspire students younger than us to self-advocate.” She is a proponent of helping incoming first-year students have as much of a welcoming experience as she did.
When asked what advice she would pass on to incoming students, Salafia encourages students to get involved, especially early on! She says being involved helped her make many friendships and grow a new passion for architecture. “Once you start getting involved in clubs on campus, you will feel like you have a voice and can help to make change,” she says. “It’s honestly an amazing thing and I hope everyone gets a chance to be heard. Try joining clubs that interest you and you will be able to connect with like-minded people and make lasting friendships.”