From Drawings to Reality: Externing at BRW Architects

At the UVA School of Architecture, most of our time is spent in the design process: testing ideas, iterating, refining, sometimes starting over from scratch. That focus on exploration is one of the things I value most about the A-School. But studio ends at the drawing board. What happens after that—when those ideas start becoming physical buildings—is something we rarely get exposed to.

That curiosity has been sitting with me for a while. Before I transferred to UVA, I earned an associate degree in computer-aided drafting and design. That provided me with a solid technical foundation and introduced me to the professional tools of the trade, but it also left me with more significant questions. What does coordination between disciplines actually look like in real time? How are decisions made when construction starts? Where do clients, zoning laws, and permitting fit into the creative process?

This winter, I finally had the chance to find out.

I externed for a few days with BRW Architects in Charlottesville, and from the moment I arrived, the team made it clear: they wanted me to see it all. Not just the polished renderings or finished projects, but the moving parts behind them—the conversations, constraints, and coordination. What I walked away with was a more complete and grounded understanding of what it actually means to practice architecture.

Day One: Seeing the Whole Picture

We started off with a deep dive into BRW’s work. The firm’s range is broad and includes single-family homes, multifamily housing, commercial spaces, and institutional projects. I spent much of the day shadowing team members as they moved across these different archetypes and scales. What struck me wasn’t just the variety of work but the flow of energy in the office. Conversations overlapped, roles blended, and collaboration wasn’t just a buzzword—it was built into the culture.

Later that day, we visited active and completed sites, including a multifamily development under construction and several finished commercial projects near and along the Downtown Mall. It was one thing to see drawings on a screen and something entirely else to walk the spaces and see how those drawings had translated to something physical.

Day Two: Beyond Designing

We kicked things off with another site visit, this time to a multifamily development north of Charlottesville. Then came one of the highlights of the externship: sitting in on an OAC (Owner, Architect, Contractor) meeting. Watching those dynamics play out in real time showed me how much architectural responsibility extends beyond design through negotiation, problem-solving, and real-time decision-making.

Later, I visited the City of Charlottesville’s Neighborhood Development Services office, where I gained a front-row view of the public processes that shape every project. From zoning to permitting to affordability requirements, I started to understand how the built environment is a negotiation between vision and regulation. It’s not just about aesthetics but rather about working within real-world constraints, thoughtfully and intentionally.

Day Three: All About Collaboration

The final day focused on collaboration, specifically, how architects work with other disciplines to bring a vision to life. I spent the morning with two of BRW’s regular partners: Line + Grade, a civil and landscape engineering firm, and Dunbar, a structural engineering firm. Both conversations were eye-opening. I saw how architects don’t just pitch ideas but rather translate them, adapt them, and strengthen them through interdisciplinary dialogue.

The day wrapped up with a portfolio review attended by several BRW team members. We didn’t just talk about aesthetics or presentation. We talked about narrative and discussed how my projects connect across scales and how my tendency to integrate systems, user experience, and landscape shapes the way I design. The feedback I received was practical and generous, and it helped me see ways to better communicate what drives my work.

Stepping back, this externship gave me more than just answers to my questions. It gave me a vision of the kind of professional environment I hope to be part of one day. Every conversation at BRW was insightful and eye-opening, not just expanding on what gets taught in studio but also the more complete process and people behind it all.

I’m deeply grateful to the entire BRW team for opening their doors, sharing their time, and helping me connect the dots between what we draw in school and what it takes to build in the real world.