Ke-An Chiang | Hennebery Eddy Architects Portland, OR.

This summer, I had the privilege of interning with the Historic Resource Group (HRG) at Hennebery Eddy Architects, Portland office. The HRG handles a diverse array of projects—ranging from cultural and civic rehabilitation to providing condition assessments, treatment recommendations, and assisting with historic building nomination reports aimed at tax credits. Being part of HRG, I had the invaluable opportunity to learn from experienced principals, architects, and technical staffs. During my ten-week internship, I primarily contributed to projects for the National Park Service and Oregon State Parks. One of my most significant involvements was with the historic barn project at Silver Falls State Park, Oregon, where I worked alongside a senior colleague on field measurements and site surveys. Additionally, I was responsible for creating digital model for the historic barn in Revit, which will be instrumental in future rehabilitation considerations. Several other NPS rehabilitation projects I worked on had progressed to the post-condition assessment and near-completion of construction drawings stages, where I assisted in completing architectural service reports and the 70% CD construction drawings set. Two long-term tasks related to the company’s professional development goals also occupied my time. First, I helped HRG establish a wood microscopic identification process by capturing microscopic images of various Pacific Northwest wood types to expand the identification database. Second, I researched a topic on resilience, focusing on substitute materials for existing and historic buildings under wildfire threats, aligning with the company’s long-term environmental goals. My work at the firm closely tied to my academic coursework at Penn, particularly HSPV 5550 Conservation Science and HSPV 5510 Building Pathology. Through this internship, I honed skills such as using microscopes for softwood section observation and paint analysis, and I gained a deeper understanding of how weathering affects masonry, concrete, and wood structures, along with the resulting conditions. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the firm. In addition to working closely with experts, the firm places a strong emphasis on professional growth, offering structured learning opportunities. One of the standout initiatives is the bi-weekly “Lunch and Learn” presentations, which provide a refreshing break and an opportunity to explore a variety of topics presented by both internal employees and external experts. I was also invited by an HRG principal to participate in Association for Preservation Technology (APT) webinars in a conference room setting, fostering a communal learning environment that enhances knowledge and camaraderie among the team. In conclusion, I had the opportunity to work with some truly wonderful people who were always eager to answer my questions about work tasks, their career paths, and how I can further my career goals and interests. I am incredibly grateful for this experience.