Debbie Fu | Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with BBB's Historic Preservation team, where I had numerous opportunities to apply my academic knowledge in practical settings. Firstly, I contributed to enhancing the Historic Preservation details library of the company. This library contains a collection of various architectural construction details. To make it more user-friendly in the future, I created both CAD and Revit versions of the library. During this process, my Revit skills improved significantly.  

I also actively participated in two PARKS projects. One of them was the Admin Building. When I joined the project, it was already at around 70% completion in terms of submission. The overall design work was mostly finished, but there were many intricate details that needed further refinement. Based on prior research, I assisted in creating detailed window drawings and construction diagrams, encompassing over ten different window types within the building, categorized based on their condition, distinguishing between need to be replaced and preserved ones, which led to different approaches. This aligned well with the concepts I learned in HSPV 7380 Wood Seminar and further deepened my understanding of wooden window structures and their practical restoration. 

Another project involved renovating the John Jay Homestead in New York state. I witnessed the evolution of this project. The initial drawings received from the client were incomplete, and I spent time organizing them. For buildings without drawings, I created plans and elevations using photographs and data. I also conducted on-site surveys, primarily involving data measurements and documentation. Additionally, I attended weekly meetings with clients and consultants to update each other on work progress. This project turned out to be the longest-duration assignment I worked on. 

Simultaneously, the company provided me with various opportunities to engage in other projects. For instance, I conducted research on the degree of cracking in brick walls at a disused Columbia University property. I experimented with different chemical treatments to identify the best solution for protecting the exterior walls. I applied knowledge from HSPV 5550 Conservation Science and HSPV 5510 Building Pathology, such as understanding brick porosity. I also assisted in conducting a background investigation on a historic building on Fifth Avenue. This mainly involved researching the construction and renovation periods of the buildings to establish a timeline of their development. I also explored the architect's biography and other works to identify their distinctive style. Lastly, I compared historical maps to track the height changes of surrounding block buildings over the past century. These research efforts laid the foundation and rationale for new designs, aligning with what I learned in the HSPV 6000 Documentation course. 

In summary, the experiences of this summer have been immensely valuable to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn so much during my time at BBB.