Inside NBA’s 2026 Summer Internship Program
Twelve students from nine universities joined NBA’s Atlanta and Washington, DC offices for our 2026 summer internship program. They stepped into active projects, learned directly from our teams and saw how ideas develop from early planning and design through documentation and construction. Studio work was paired with dedicated opportunities to engage with NBAers across the firm through our Summer Lecture Series. Sessions explored how different areas of expertise contribute to our work, from programming and design process to sustainability, building technology and project management. Revit training and presentations led by our land planning, interiors, business development and marketing teams gave the group additional tools and perspectives to bring back to their assignments.
For Georgia Tech’s Cole Fox, that focus on professional development was a highlight of the program.
“The importance NBA puts towards fundamental learning was surprising and refreshing. With a summer lecture series, intro modeling courses, insightful opportunities, and many helpful peers, I felt like a graciously welcomed visitor.”
Learning also moved beyond the studio with group site visits to Novel Blandtown and the Villages at Terrace Greene, where the class could connect design decisions with the built work. Joint intern events with Choate Construction and Atlantic Builders expanded that experience further, giving the group opportunities to meet and learn alongside peers working in other parts of the industry.
In the Washington, DC office, Penn State’s Leah Steele and Maryland’s Louisa Neill gained experience across multifamily and student housing work, contributing to schematic design, site plan preparation, documentation and construction administration.
UGA’s Joan Eom spent the summer with our Land Planning team, strengthening her technical skills and gaining a deeper understanding of how a site moves from concept to reality. Working alongside Chris Fortner, Bryan Edwards and Teresa Bui, she experienced the value of having a creative and supportive team willing to answer questions, share their expertise and invest in her growth.
For Clemson’s Kyle Marra-Ulfe, some of the most memorable moments came through everyday studio interactions. He recalled Reisha Allport-Marie pulling him into conversations to compare products or ask for his perspective on a design.
“It was great getting to intern at NBA, and I honestly enjoyed it more than I could’ve hoped! The inclusion I felt with the team stuck with me the most.”
That sense of connection carried beyond project work. The summer included Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals games, family fun at TopGolf, weekly Miller Time happy hours, studio team-building activities, World Cup celebrations and a paper airplane competition.
Some experiences were even less conventional. Auburn’s Derek McMaster and Georgia Tech’s Alina Zeleszko joined Cannon Reynolds and Carl Waver for a sporting clays outing that doubled as a chance to understand more about the firm’s approach to clubhouse design. For Derek, the experience demonstrated “how learning never stops both inside and outside the office.”
From contributing to active project work and walking jobsites to attending trainings and finding their place within our studios, the summer gave this year’s class plenty to take back to campus. Wherever they head next, we’ll be cheering them on and hope to see a few familiar faces back in our studios in the years ahead!
