Summer in the city: RAND intern Stephen Browne.
As I was finishing my sophomore year this spring at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, I decided it was time to get my first internship. Being a manager at a Rita’s Italian Ice just wasn’t cutting it, and I was ready for a big boy job. When I was lucky enough to land an internship at RAND this summer, I never realized just how big the job would be.
Growing up in New Jersey, I’m used to the pristine parkway, “Jersey Shore” getaways, and driving wherever and whenever I want. When I found out RAND’s office was in the middle of Manhattan, it almost sent me backpacking in the opposite direction. New York and its crowds, the ongoing cacophony of sirens and horns, and cab drivers with a killer instinct, just wasn’t for me. After my internship, however, I see the city—and engineering—in a different light.
I was assigned to RAND’s Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing team, and it turned out to be a great learning experience. First I was introduced to the administrative side of the firm. I learned how RAND was hired for jobs, how we administer contractor bids, how to write a proper bid review letter, and other steps to the business.
Once I understood the basics, I spent most of my time going on site visits with MEP team members and seeing the different phases of projects. I learned the steps in converting a heating system from oil to gas. I realized how huge a building’s AC units really are. And I saw the appreciation of residents when their building’s ventilation system was finally working again (after six site visits in a row in 100-degree weather).
For the past 12 weeks, visiting job sites, evaluating design plans, meeting with contractors, and chatting with building superintendents was part of my daily routine. So I learned a lot more than just theoretical concepts—this was hands-on training. I'm proud to say I walked the walk and talked the talk of an engineer.
While I learned a lot from my site visits, I learned even more from the motivated people at RAND. I had always thought engineers specialized in one type of engineering and stuck with just that. But RAND’s staff has a multitude of talents and diverse expertise, and they work on a wide-range of projects that’s not limited to just one skill set. I was pleasantly surprised to find, for example, electrical engineers working on heating plant upgrades and architects conducting physical condition surveys.
Even though my Jersey instincts tried to steer me away from the city, I’m glad I interned at RAND this summer. Seeing how an engineering/architectural firm functions both in the office and on site is an experience no classroom or teacher can ever duplicate. Moreover, New York City is a now a place I can enjoy, and I thank RAND for opening my eyes—which I need to keep open to dodge those killer cabbies!
