My name is Aidan Korper and I’m working as a project engineering intern on McKinstry’s Fire Protection team at the Portland, Ore. office. I’m a rising junior at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, studying construction management.

When I started my search for a summer internship, I focused my search in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve always heard such great things about the area, from its vast forests to explore and opportunities for fun on two wheels to its unique culture and down-to-earth people (I’ve confirmed these things are true!). I figured if I could make it work logistically, I would drive out to the west coast for a summer of learning and exploring!

Through some research and connections I made through school and travels during spring semester, I had narrowed my search to a few companies I felt were on the forefront of the construction industry. It seemed like a long shot but with some hard work, good timing, and a whole lotta’ luck, I was able to secure an internship position with one of the top companies on my list—McKinstry! With McKinstry’s passion for sustainable building/design and drive to think beyond the traditional construction process, I knew there was truly no better program and group of people I could learn from.

I received the official offer in April and was elated—not a long shot after all! I immediately started planning to move out to Portland, Oregon for the summer, while acknowledging the fact that I had quite the journey ahead of me, starting with a road trip from my home in Connecticut. I knew the drive could be streamlined down to a 2,500-mile trek, but where’s the fun in that? After two weeks and 4,500 miles of driving—and countless wonderful experiences in places such as Badlands National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone National Park—I reached my new home for the summer, with 12 weeks of learning and growing ahead of me

So far in my position, I’ve had the opportunity to assist in various quantity take-offs (detailed measurement of materials and labor needed to complete a construction project), estimates, material submittals, permitting requests, project billing items and other project documentation tasks for McKinstry’s Fire Protection team. Further, I have already learned so much about the construction process itself and the steps it takes to complete a project efficiently.

Additionally, through the “lunch and learn” presentations as part of the B.L.U.E. Program, I’ve been introduced to some relevant topics and new technologies that McKinstry plans on taking advantage of in the coming years. For me, this constant flow of interesting conversation in the workplace is what sets McKinstry apart from all other companies.

Every day is a learning experience and a chance to be better at McKinstry. I am so excited to be here and am looking forward to growing throughout the summer!