Kayleigh Luke ‘24 chose to become an Architectural Design + Technology major because, she says, architects have the ability to leave their mark on a community or a worldwide scale. She says the classes she takes in the Department of Architecture give her skills that will be useful to her career, including training in the real-world applications of architecture and the technology used in professional firms. “The design projects completed are on real, local sites that we visit,” she says.
Kayleigh is the president of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), which has allowed her to participate in significant events on campus, such as helping to design and build a sukkah for the Jewish holiday Sukkot in collaboration with Hillel. Kayleigh also helps plan the annual Beaux Arts Ball, a professional event with students, faculty, and professors.
Kayleigh was formerly the president of Woman in Architecture and Design (WAD) in which she oversaw the club’s social media and student outreach. “Overall, my involvement in architecture clubs has allowed me to connect with students of all levels within the architecture department and take part in strengthening the studio culture.”
“CETA overall has been very supportive along every step of my educational journey,” Kayleigh says. “Through career fair events and the network of professors, I have been able to get two different internships.” She says the architecture department chair, James Fuller, is constantly supportive in deciding which classes to take and helping students get internships.
Kayleigh is currently an intern at Dietz and Company Architects of Springfield, one of the largest full-service architecture firms in western Massachusetts. Her team focuses on casino projects with MGM, and Kayleigh works on tasks ranging from simple design exercises to detailed section drawings. Her role allows her to contribute to projects in casinos across the country.
“There has not been a single day of work where I haven’t learned something new,” Kayleigh says. ”I feel that the skills I’m learning in the internship translate into my schoolwork, allowing me to create better designs in my design studios and work at a more efficient pace.” At Dietz, Kayleigh says she is treated, not as an intern, but as a regular employee. “I’m getting accurate and real experience that will relate directly to the type of work I will be completing after college—dealing with real designs that will be built. Being in the office also lets me observe experienced professionals, allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of how an architecture firm runs.”
After graduation, Kayleigh will continue her studies at the University of Hartford in the 4+1 accelerated masters track, allowing her to get her Master of Architecture degree.
Outside of schoolwork, Kayleigh is on the Hartford Spirit team, which she says has allowed her to meet new people and relieve stress. She also loves to travel and participated in the study abroad program at UHart, traveling Florence, Italy in the spring of 2023 with ten other classmates and a professor. “It was the most amazing experience of my life,” she says. “I was able to experience some of the most famous works of architecture firsthand.”
Kayleigh Luke ‘24, Architectural Design + TechnologyAll the professors are very helpful in assisting the creation of professional resumes and portfolios which have helped me get 2 internships. They are always very kind and open for conversation.