RAMSA Summer Charrette

Robert A. M. Stern Architects Virtual Summer Design Charrette

Nick Oddo, Fifth-Year Student

Due to the cancellation of their summer internship program, Robert A.M. Stern Architects revised their summer plans to take the form of the RAMSA Summer Design Charrette: a two-week long theoretical design project stationed along the Hudson River.

The proposed design challenge was coined the Hudson River Arts Community, boasting river frontage views, a flat design surface, and easy access by car, train, and ferry. Fifteen interns—including myself, Eddie Faicco (‘21), and Mickey Parks (‘21)—were divided into four teams, each tasked with designing a masterplan for the arts community. The following week we were tasked with creating an individual design of one of four building typologies: cottage, community center, school dormitory, and studio space.

Throughout the two-week design process, we had daily team meetings with two task managers from the firm, as well as mid-week check-ins with the partners of the firm. On both Fridays, a firm-wide Zoom seminar was held for presentation of our masterplan designs and individual designs respectively with a panel of jurists consisting of Bob Stern and the partners. Outside of the design charrette, daily training and info sessions were held to provide the interns with more exposure to the office environment and workflow.

Navigating the uncertain environment of virtual work and communication was made easier with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Outlook, and collaborative program elements through AutoCad, Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp. Interns were compensated in stipend form for their efforts, rather than hourly. All in all, the charrette proved to be challenging but rewarding, offering a brief insight into the firm’s staff, functionality, and process while providing its interns with valuable knowledge and work experience in this new distanced environment.

Hudson River Arts Community Proposal, Nick Oddo