Innovative program fosters experiential job training that can lead to future hiring opportunities
LOS ANGELES (Dec. 12, 2022) – HNTB Corporation and Los Angeles Trade Tech College have announced an innovative collaboration that offers students paid internships to learn to create leading edge presentations and environments. This opportunity to work alongside HNTB’s national marketing group and in the local architecture studio provides learning and on-the-job experience with state-of-the-art technology. The program will start in January 2023 with a four-month inaugural trial.
“Our objective with this unique educational partnership is to offer Los Angeles Trade Tech College Architecture and Environmental Design students the chance to work on real assignments and become familiar with the latest technology being implemented in our industry,” said Charles Beauvoir, PE, SE, HNTB vice president and senior program manager. “As our firm continues to look for long-term talented professionals, we believe this program positions participants well for future career opportunities.”
The program is a collaboration between HNTB’s national sales office and the downtown Los Angeles office. One of the two paid, half-time interns will support the national sales office while the other intern will work with the L.A. architectural practice. The firm will provide the software, hardware and stipends for the internships as well as daily mentorship and guidance from the HNTB team of professionals and the professors from LATTC.
“Our projects are part school, part entrepreneurial business, and part laboratory,” said Marcela Oliva, LATTC architecture professor. “Our design build projects are learning and doing and the only way to learn is by doing.”
Cooperative Work Experience Education is based on the principle that well-educated individuals develop most effectively through the incorporation of related education and work experience. By monitoring structured work experiences in business, industry, government and human services settings, LATTC provides enrichment to college studies which enhance the student’s total development.
The LATTC Architecture and Environmental Design educational partnership follows on the heels of HNTB’s successful SPARK program which just celebrated its fifth year. SPARK is a free, five-week afterschool program that covers topics including bridge and airport design, water engineering and rail planning. The program supports two high schools in the Los Angeles area with STEM curriculums – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – that aim to encourage more students to pursue degrees and professions in various fields of transportation and infrastructure. The sessions bring together experts in various infrastructure fields to guide students in hands-on projects.
Across the country, HNTB engages in various programs and activities to create awareness in young people and college students about careers in engineering, architecture and planning. Many HNTB offices work with local organizations and schools to provide job shadowing opportunities for high school students so they may become familiar with potential careers in these fields. HNTB also supports employees who attend career day events at local schools to present information on careers in engineering and transportation to elementary and middle-school students.