Internship
Internships & Mentorships at VIA
Intern Fellowship Program - NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!
The Summer Intern position provides an exciting opportunity to play a meaningful role in providing technical development, sustainable strategies, and contributions to the design and production of architectural projects under the direct supervision of the project manager or principal in charge. This is an in-person position for those pursuing architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, or related degrees wherein the intern will be spending most of their time one to one with a principal shadowing and having the opportunity to hear different conversations. They will work collaboratively with various project teams of architects, interior designers, and engineers and will be encouraged to be an active part of our team.
Our principals and staff invest in giving our interns a valuable experience in different parts of the industry such as: pre-design field work, construction administration, client meetings, construction site visits, and design exercises in the office. Our goal is to inspire new designers and provide a meaningful experience that equips each intern with valuable lessons that will help launch their careers after graduation. We are excited to welcome fresh ideas and new approaches to our firm! We’re always inspired by the fresh perspectives and skills our interns bring to the firm, and enjoy learning something new through the process.
In addition to our normal project work, we set aside at least one day a week for interns to work on a Fellowship Project. The Fellowship Project allows our team of interns with different backgrounds to collaborate on a project together throughout the summer and learn from each other. The Fellowship objective is for each intern to leave with a wealth of gained knowledge and a completed piece to carry forward into their portfolio. We offer our interns the autonomy to perform research, develop, and present their own deliverables to support a project or initiative within the firm. Our program has attracted a diverse group of talented interns from all around the world, and past interns have even gone on to secure full-time positions at VIA!
SUMMER 2026
AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s changing architecture in real, practical ways. From automating repetitive tasks to generating thousands of design options in seconds, AI helps architects focus on creativity and problem-solving. Integrated with BIM and cloud-based tools, AI provides real-time insights that improve sustainability, reduce costs, and enhance collaboration. These technologies can analyze energy performance early in the design process, predict project risks, and even optimize schedules.
But AI also brings challenges. Questions about intellectual property, authorship, and cultural bias are important to consider. While AI can accelerate workflows and expand creative possibilities, it’s not a replacement for human judgment and design intuition.Â
VIA’s 2026 Interns will immerse themselves in our design processes, identify bottlenecks that hinder efficiency, and propose AI-driven solutions. In this role, you will explore how we can strike the right balance—leveraging AI as a powerful tool to design smarter, faster, and more sustainably. Over 10 weeks, participants will collaborate with architects, designers, and support staff across all departments to develop strategies to streamline operations and enhance productivity.
A Multi-Disciplinary Approach
We are seeking applicants who are ready to investigate how data and automation can support the design process and streamline the business of architecture. Because AI impacts everything from project management to market positioning, we are opening our doors to a wider range of disciplines. We welcome students of Architecture and Design, as well as those with Business, Data Science, Marketing, and Design Technology backgrounds.Â
Ready to get started? Please complete the Intern Fellowship Interest Form and upload your resume and portfolio (or work samples). If you have further questions, send them to via@viadesignarchitects.com with the subject line “2026 Summer Intern Fellowship.”
We look forward to hearing from you!Â
Resume and Portfolio Upload
Please upload an up-to-date Resume and Portfolio below. 20MB file limit size.
Why Live, Work, and Play in Norfolk?
Located in Coastal Virginia, Norfolk offers a dynamic lifestyle. With easy access to local trails and beaches and a short drive to both the Outer Banks and the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Norfolk presents a unique blend of urban energy combined with the beauty of the coast and mountains. This makes it a truly special place to live, work, and play.
Our closely-knit design team thrives in a beautifully renovated, historic building in the heart of Downtown Norfolk, which has been recognized with numerous awards for design excellence, transformation, and energy leadership. Our walkable and centrally located office is ideal for all who visit. We are steps away from many diverse lunch, coffee, and happy hour spots as well as the light rail , Elizabeth River Trail, Waterside District and more.
VIA is thrilled to be named one of the 2024 and 2025 Top Virginia Employers for Interns by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP)!
This recognition highlights our commitment to fostering high-quality internship programs that provide valuable learning experiences for students. By investing in interns, we’re not only helping them grow but also strengthening Virginia’s workforce. We’re proud to join the ranks of over 135 other Virginia employers who share this commitment.
Visit the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia website to view all recipients.
Previous Fellowship Programs
Summer 2025 - Translating brand identity into project vision
The 2025 Summer Intern Fellowship centered on the enduring power of storytelling through graphic design. Interns explored VIA’s extensive graphic history across the entire project lifecycle, from initial marketing proposals to design development deliverables. They then developed a cohesive new visual language and created a comprehensive guidebook for its implementation, ensuring all future VIA graphics communicated complex concepts concisely and spoke a unified visual “language.” The ultimate goal was to develop adaptable graphic templates that seamlessly integrated into VIA’s workflow, building a library of up-to-date, standardized visuals that effectively showcased each project’s unique narrative from ideation to completion.
Elizabeth Schmidt
Katherine McDonald
Wesley buskey
Yacine berrada
“During my summer internship, I was able to contribute meaningfully to ongoing architectural projects while also honing my skills and expanding my knowledge of the profession…The VIA team was supportive, collaborative, and generous with feedback, creating a great environment for growth. I also appreciated the events hosted by Norfolk and the AIA, which allowed me to connect with peers and feel part of a larger architectural network.”
– Katherine McDonald
Summer 2024 - Designing Artificial Intelligence into Intelligence Amplification
The 2024 program focused on exploring Intelligence Amplification (IA) and how AI can be used to empower designers, not replace them. Interns had the chance to contribute to VIA’s cutting-edge research and implementation of AI into our design process while immersing themselves in the studio’s collaborative and creative culture.
Agnes To
Ben erickson
candice yang
malasia cherry
“In the 10-week internship with VIA, I had the pleasure of working with fellow interns and VIA team members on a variety of projects. There was always something to work on or research which made my time there especially meaningful. I gained a handful of certifications in the short time with VIA and, on multiple occasions, got to participate in field work and consider design solutions with the architects!”
– Malasia cherry
Summer 2023 - Unpacking the ToolBox
Laura Read
Saeed Sakhdarki
Sam Kohlmann
Zoque Wahid
Some of the most widely used words in design professions and the general public – resilience, sustainability, and equity – are also some of the most broadly interpreted, and misinterpreted. With a myriad of tools, ratings and certifications, advocates, organizations and professional societies, how do we as designers approach and advocate better solutions and measure our impacts? How do we decide which tools are most appropriate for which projects? How do we inform and influence our clients and prospective clients of the value of these approaches? How do we communicate these complex processes and outcomes clearly and beautifully through narrative and graphics?
2022 - Focusing your Energies
Ainish Sheth
Beatrice Nzeyimana
2022 Fellowship Objectives:
To analyze regional climate data and create a sustainable design resource which will guide VIA’s sustainable design approach, educate others in the profession, and provide the data needed to encourage clients to pursue sustainable design in their projects.
The Challenge:
How do our regional climate conditions affect our design decisions?
What are the most effective design responses to our regional climate conditions?
What tools can be used or developed to aid our sustainable design approach throughout the design process?
How can we comprehensively communicate our findings internally at VIA, within the profession, and to clients?
2021 - The HULL Story
Rachel Julius
Haoye Xu
Jada Crittendon
Ethan Curtis
2021 Fellowship Objectives:
Roll forward the Fort Monroe Waterfront Re-Development as a benchmark project for building an integrated family of flood plain design solution proposals.
The Challenge:
How does one design and permit an accessible building like the 90-room hotel over water (not inclusive of VMRC + Joint Permit Application requirements)? Â
How does one design and permit the adaptive re-use of the construction type present in building FM204 + FM205 to meet the 2015or18 Energy Code, comply with Executive Order 45, and satisfy the Secretary Department of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Structures?
How does one design and permit an addition to a building like FM205 to comply with Executive Order 45 and satisfy the Secretary Department of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Structures?
