More Than an Internship: Experiencing Design-Build at Iconica

An internship with Iconica is about more than gaining professional experience. It’s about becoming part of a team and experiencing what it means to deliver projects through an integrated design-build approach. This summer, our interns had the opportunity to see how architecture, engineering, construction, and business operations come together to transform ideas into completed projects.

This year’s group of interns spanned a variety of disciplines, including MEP engineering, architecture, construction project management, marketing, and field engineering. Each intern brought a unique perspective that played an important role in supporting the work happening across the company. By working alongside professionals from multiple departments, interns gained insight into how different areas of expertise collaborate throughout the entire project lifecycle.

A Cross-Departmental Experience

From early design conversations to active construction sites, interns experienced the full scope of the design-build process. They contributed to current projects, supported project teams, participated in discussions, and gained firsthand exposure to the coordination and teamwork required to successfully deliver projects for clients.

For interns across each department, hands-on experience provided a deeper understanding of how different disciplines contribute to successful projects and to the company as a whole. Whether exploring how design decisions impact constructability, budgeting, and scheduling, or developing skills in communication and storytelling through content creation, each intern gained insight into the role their work plays in the bigger picture. By working across disciplines and learning from one another, interns saw how diverse perspectives, expertise, and collaboration come together to drive successful projects and strengthen Iconica’s community and culture.

Learning at Iconica extends beyond daily responsibilities. Interns participate in company activities, such as our company golf outing, as well as workshops like CPR training. They also have opportunities to volunteer with organizations including Girls on the Run and WayForward. These experiences allow interns to build connections, engage with employees across departments, and gain a broader understanding of the many roles that contribute to a successful design-build company.

The Internship Mentor Program

A cornerstone of the internship experience is Iconica’s Internship Mentor Program, led by three team members representing different departments across the company. This cross-functional mentorship approach provides interns with guidance from multiple perspectives and creates opportunities to connect with leaders outside of their immediate project teams.

Each week, interns and mentors meet for check-ins to discuss what they are working on, share progress, ask questions, and talk through challenges. These conversations provide consistent support throughout the internship and help ensure interns feel connected, encouraged, and confident as they navigate new experiences.

The program also includes weekly learning sessions, where mentors share knowledge about different aspects of the design-build industry, professional development, and career growth. Throughout the summer, interns learned about topics including ventilation systems, HVAC units, sloped roofing systems and requirements, building code requirements, and other technical disciplines that influence the work done every day. They also gained valuable career skills through sessions focused on navigating the job search process, preparing for interviews, building a strong LinkedIn profile, and developing the professional skills needed to confidently take the next step in their careers.

These sessions helped interns develop a broader understanding of the design-build process, showing how different areas of expertise and decisions come together, reinforcing the collaborative nature of design-build and giving them a more complete picture of the industry. Just as importantly, they provided practical tools and knowledge they can carry with them throughout their careers.

For mentors, the twice-weekly meetings are just as valuable as they are for interns. Architectural Designer Rose Winger has found the experience of guiding this year’s group just as rewarding as the learning itself:

“I have enjoyed being one of the mentors for our summer interns this year! Meeting with them twice a week to share knowledge and check in to see how they are doing has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Watching their growth and engagement not only helps them, but it also gives me the opportunity to sharpen my skills and strengthen my coaching abilities.”

– Rose Winger, Architectural Designer and Internship Mentor

Learning Beyond the Office

The learning experience continues outside the office. Interns had opportunities to visit active job sites, participate in field observations, and attend project meetings, allowing them to see the transition from design concepts to physical construction. These experiences helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application while showing the importance of communication and collaboration throughout the building process.

For mentors like Mechanical Engineer Michael Meinke, guiding interns through these real-world moments is personal. Having once been an intern himself, he sees mentorship as a way of returning the guidance he received:

“Being a mentor is my way of paying it forward for those who have taken the time to guide and teach me when I was doing internships and co-ops. Interning was an invaluable experience for me to discover my career path, and I now look forward to playing a small part in helping students find what their future holds for them.”

– Michael Meinke, Mechanical Engineer and Internship Mentor

Final Presentations and Reflection

To wrap up their internship, each intern has the opportunity to reflect on their experience through a final presentation to the Iconica team. During these presentations, interns share what they worked on, the knowledge they gained, and the ways they grew throughout their time with the company. It is a chance to celebrate their accomplishments and recognize the contributions they made as part of the team.

Building Relationships That Last

While professional development is at the heart of the program, building relationships is just as important. Interns have opportunities to connect with one another and the broader Iconica team through lunches, team bonding activities, volunteer opportunities, and other group events. These experiences create opportunities to step away from project work, get to know coworkers on a personal level, and build friendships that make the internship experience memorable.

Iconica believes the best learning happens when people are given meaningful opportunities, trusted with responsibility, and surrounded by a supportive team. Our internship program is designed to provide hands-on experience, mentorship, and a true understanding of the design-build process.

During their journey with Iconica, interns gain more than technical knowledge. They build professional connections, develop new skills, and experience what it means to be part of a collaborative team.

We are proud of the energy, curiosity, and ideas our interns bring, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help prepare the next generation of design-build professionals in south central Wisconsin and beyond.