Hear from a recent Civil Engineering Intern, Emmett Cheney, about his experience with our firm! Dive in as Emmett answers buzzing questions and shares insight into how he got the most out of his experience.
What’s a concept from your civil engineering classes that finally ‘clicked’ when you saw it applied to a real project?
In my environmental engineering class, there was a large focus on water treatment facilities and common practices. I was unaware of how large an engineering problem it was to treat stormwater during construction, and after project completion. At CPL, designing and modeling stormwater systems allowed me to see a new perspective on a foundational concept.
What was the biggest learning curve you faced during your first few weeks, and how did you navigate it?
My biggest learning curve was handling the steady flow of work from different projects in different phases. To overcome this, I intentionally set time aside for detailed project organization. This made what was initially a setback become something enjoyable about my time working for CPL with the interdisciplinary work constantly keeping my mind engaged.
Was there a moment this summer where you realized, 'Wow, this isn't just theory anymore'?
This being my first internship experience, I did not expect to use the skills from my geo-surveying courses. My first area takeoff reminded me how important and applicable being able to read drawings and surveys are. With the projects being something I could drive by on any given day it was really cool to connect the real world with the surveys and drawings that can feel theoretical at times.
Can you walk us through a specific project where you felt your contribution made a tangible impact?
About a month into my internship, I had the opportunity to design and mark up a Proposal Request. Communicating and backchecking with our CAD technicians as well as giving the drawings back to the architect gave me a higher sense of responsibility and gave me a lot more weight to the work I was doing. I look forward to seeing my work after construction.
What was it like getting out of the office for site visits? How did seeing the lines on your screen translate to active construction?
It was really enlightening to see how different slopes look/feel like in a quantifiable way and doing detective work on existing stormwater infrastructure is enjoyable.
Civil engineering involves a lot of coordination. How did you experience the collaboration between our civil team, the structural engineers, and external partners?
Collaboration between the team has been a fun experience, the open office concept allows for easier and less intimidating conversations and interactions making communication efficient and learning easier as an intern. Working with the other interns on both the civil and structural side and pooling what we learned has been enjoyable as well. While I didn’t typically have direct communication with external partners, being able sit in on conversations and included in emails gave me an enriched understanding of the collaborative process that goes on outside the office.
Who was your biggest mentor this summer, and what’s the most valuable piece of advice they gave you?
At CPL everyone around me was a helpful and energetic mentor, each providing support and guidance pertaining to the projects and work being done, the state of the industry and career development, and educational advice! One piece of advice that resonated in the guidance of each mentor would be to ask questions even if they seem trivial.
What surprised you most about the day-to-day culture here at CPL?
Because this was my first internship, a lot of things were new and surprising to me because I didn’t know what to expect. The office space felt very inviting, with a donut fueled social gathering on Wednesday mornings, a catered breakfast on Fridays, and a lot of bonding events.
How did the firm support you when you ran into a problem or didn't know how to do something?
Peer mentorship, everywhere I turned there was someone who could answer my questions and guide me through my road bumps. There is plenty of work going on in the office, but it never felt like I was wasting someone’s time with a quick question or scheduled meeting.
Beyond the obvious, what technical or soft skills should prospective interns focus on before starting?
Be social and open-minded. Engineering demands collaboration and communication. At a diverse and interdisciplinary civil engineering firm like CPL open-mindedness will set you up for success and growth.