Meet Our Summer Interns
Joy McFadden is a rising Senior year at Morgan State University’s School of Architecture and Planning in East Baltimore, Maryland. For as long as she can remember, Joy has always wanted to pursue a profession that helps people. Initially setting her mind on becoming a pediatric doctor, Joy switched her interests to architecture when she realized she could positively shape people’s experience of space and community through design and urban planning. Having grown up between Severn and Baltimore, Joy is passionate about giving back to her communities and aspires to design an institutional, cultural, or mixed-use, community building, which honors and supports the welcoming, vibrant culture of Baltimore’s residents.
Wade Steely was raised in Westchester, NY and is completing his master’s degree in architecture at the City College of New York this Fall. Prior to pursuing architecture, Wade double majored in French and Economics, however, the world of finance and economics was not inspiring him, and he went searching for something tangible that would challenge him creatively and connect his work to the scale of people and communities. Wade is excited to see that architecture is becoming a more diverse field and believes that architects have an important role in developing new building practices that cut back on emissions.
Are there any specific areas of architecture that you are particularly interested in exploring or gaining more experience in?
Joy: I’ve been interested in designing recreational and institutional spaces since I started studying architecture. I’ve gained new interest in housing, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation. I want to learn how to incorporate sustainable and LEED certified elements into commercial and housing projects. I would also like to get involved in the urban planning design process.
Wade: I am especially interested in architecture with a public focus. One of the main reasons I decided to change gears and study architecture is due to the nature of the world. I mentioned the tangibility of architecture, but it’s more than just seeing your work and efforts materialize, it’s about people getting to use and enjoy what you design. Working on projects that can have a marked improvement on someone’s daily life, no matter how large or small, is something I can do throughout my career in architecture.
Is there a specific project or type of building that you aspire to design someday? What makes it personally significant to you?
Joy: I have an idea of what building types I’m interested in; however, I haven’t really thought about designing something very specific until now. I’ve always wanted to design something beneficial to the culture and people of Baltimore. I think designing an institution, like an interactive museum or a mixed-use structure that provides affordable housing with programs such as learning environments, reactional spaces, grocery shops, incubator spaces, a pedestrian friendly urban layout, and an interactive green infrastructure. Building and catering to the people who see Baltimore as a home is just as important as building for tourists.
Wade: I’d like to work on projects that can positively impact the communities they’re built in. I’m especially interested in working on buildings such as schools, libraries, and other public-focused projects.
Have you completed any architectural projects or coursework that you found particularly challenging or rewarding? Could you tell me about your experience?
Joy: In my 3rd year Fall semester I completed a housing project that was very challenging. We had to develop a block within a hypothetical town that coincided with the surrounding areas such as plazas, schools, parks, and restaurants. We were also able to add different programs to our own block while accommodating the demographic we designed housing and amenities around. This was challenging because we had to incorporate a form of hybrid housing mixed with townhomes, apartment units and maybe storefronts if it seemed necessary in your block. This was also rewarding because we were able to think outside of the box and develop new ideas.
Wade: It’s fair to say that most of my coursework has been particularly challenging. But these challenges come with their rewards. My studio instructor from last year is an architect who works closely with community-focused groups in the city. In our studio we worked alongside a community land trust to envision ways in which vacant lots could be acquired, stewarded, and repurposed. The research and design process involved a lot of back and forth between students and community stakeholders. This class took us outside of the classroom and made for a very impactful and rewarding studio experience.
What are some of the notable projects or experiences you've had during your time as an intern at ESKW/Architects?
Joy: A notable project is the Coney Island conceptual rendering process. I was given this task my first week starting the internship. This involved using software such as Photoshop and Revit. I developed a façade base and found a perspective view in Revit. After the base was printed out and sketched over by Andrew with windows and other details, I pulled it into Photoshop, developing a background of our site context and placing the building sketch. This took time and a lot of assistance from Ed, but I managed to cover a lot. I appreciate this project because it was fast paced and challenging; forcing me to learn a lot about Photoshop very quickly.
Wade: Visiting an active construction site for a public school in the Bronx was a highlight for me. It’s one thing to work on a project in the office, but visiting the site makes everything become real. Seeing all the hard work put into countless drawings come to life is special.
How do you see architecture evolving in the future, and what role do you envision playing in that evolution?
Joy: I believe that architecture is moving towards a more energy efficient, sustainable route that also accommodates the need for more breathable and open spaces since Covid-19. I can also see the architecture world investing in more mixed use, adaptive reuse, and rehabilitation; more materials that are renewable and not as expensive. There is a simplistic style of architecture being created and there’s not many traditional aspects in newer buildings like brick arches and columns such as Doric or Corinthian style.
Wade: I have two answers for this one.
I see architecture becoming more inclusive both in who is behind the design process and who is being designed for. Like many professions, architecture has been white male dominated. It’s extremely important to listen to and embrace the thoughts, ideas, and perspectives of people have been traditionally underrepresented in the field of architecture.
I also see architecture responding more directly to the climate crisis. Building construction and operation accounts for a huge amount of greenhouse emissions and I believe cement and concrete alone account for 8% of global CO2 emissions. New building practices are emerging, and architects have a very important say in how and where we can cut back on emissions.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of architecture that influence your creative thinking or inspire your designs?
Joy: I enjoy taking photos of nature and animals in their natural habitats. I also like to sketch either what I’m looking at or whatever comes to mind. I enjoy listening to underground or non-mainstream music (various genres); dancing and singing to it. I’ve recently started reading and writing poetry.
Wade: I have many hobbies and interests outside of architecture! A few notable ones are songwriting, word puzzles, and geography. I play both banjo and guitar and I love to sing and write songs. I also enjoy solving crosswords and word puzzles and I’ve even made my own crossword puzzles that I’ve (unsuccessfully) submitted to the NYT. I’ve always loved maps and I’ve recently taken to creating my own with some of the design skills I’ve picked up in school. My favorite part of all these interests is the creative process that comes with them. They all have unique problems to solve and ultimately result in the creation of something I can be proud of.
Lastly, what has been a highlight of your stay in NYC?
Joy: New York has so much to offer. I feel like there isn’t just one highlight, however, I’d say walking the promenade next to Brooklyn bridge was so surreal. I was looking at the skyline of New York City from a distance and I felt this amount of satisfaction. I realized at that moment that I was living the life that I dreamed of and prayed for. When I saw the culture and how fast pace everything is, it gave me an eye-opening experience that told me to just live in the moment and make each day count. I feel like these memories and first-time moments will be crucial for where I end up after, so I want to make sure I go all out.
Wade: I’ve been living in NYC since starting my degree in 2021 and I’ve been enjoying every moment. The city is incredibly dynamic and with so much constantly going on it's impossible to be bored. I’ve enjoyed going on long bike rides and exploring the different boroughs. Some highlights have been numerous visits to the Cloisters, Greenwood Cemetery, and Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball games.
