Real Life Learning: Interning on a Local Redevelopment Project
September 29th, 2023
Most people assume you’re talking about a college student when they hear the word “intern.” But this summer Loureiro’s Apex, North Carolina office hired high school student Garrett Kuo to fill this role.
“Garrett came by last year with his mother and introduced himself,” recalls Senior Vice President Sean Crowell. “He had his sights set on working with us and I was really impressed by his persistence and drive.” At the time, Garrett was entering his junior year in high school, and was looking to secure an internship for the following summer as he prepared to enter his senior year.
“At my school, I’m in the engineering academy - a special program where we do engineering classes,” says Garrett. “One of the requirements is to get an engineering-related internship. Last summer I started researching the engineering companies around where I live trying to find one that would be willing to do an internship. I came across Loureiro and I visited their office and talked to Sean. The office is only 10 minutes from my house so it really was perfect.”
Sean Crowell (L) and Garrett Kuo (R)
After a couple of meetings with Sean, a plan was set in motion.
“I saw an opportunity to have Garrett work on a local redevelopment project - improving a distressed asset in the community. I thought it would be a win-win for all involved,” says Sean.
Garrett’s internship began in June and ran through the end of August when he returned to school. During his internship, he spent time looking through site plans and putting together spreadsheets and field sheets that the team uses at the Bessemer City brownfields project, where Loureiro’s environmental engineering team is working to transform a former mill into an apartment complex.
“Our team is working on a vapor mitigation system underneath the building, as well as managing soil under the North Carolina Brownfields Program,” Garret says.
Garrett has a love for drawing up plans, and one of the tasks Sean gave him involved coming up with a design for some piping – the vacuum of the mitigation system.
“It’s cool to think that what I’m drawing will actually be used on the project,” Garrett says.
During the final weeks of his internship, Garrett had the opportunity to visit the project site where much of his work had been focused over the course of the summer. He has his sights set on his senior year and the direction he’ll be heading in the future.
“This was the first job I really had,” Garrett says. “It is a great environment to work in. I know if I ever have a question I can ask. My internship at Loureiro has shown to me that I’m on the right path.”
