Intern Highlight: Katy Schaaf

This summer we welcomed intern Katy Schaaf back to our Columbia Studio. Katy finished her Bachelor of Architecture this past spring at Clemson University. Previously interning with BOUDREAUX the summer of 2024, she was able to return to campus and see the landscape entry she had modeled come to life at Clemson University’s Bryan Mall project. We love putting our summer interns on projects at their alma maters as they offer unique insights and take pride in the projects.

“I came back to BOUDREAUX this summer because I really liked the work environment” Katy said, “I like that there are a variety of projects and sectors I can gain experience from.”

This summer she contributed to many different types of projects, including downtown master plans, renderings, new construction, Clemson’s Bryan Mall Renovation, and massing studies for a design award submission. Experience gained at BOUDREAUX through her prior work on the City of Hartsville Downtown Master Plan, influenced her senior project reimagining industrial areas near the harbor of City of Georgetown, SC.

“My internship at BOUDREAUX was so valuable! School is theoretical study, but at a firm you see practical solutions for real-life clients,” she said, noting how her experience also aided in ‘Wheels for Change’- a project studying New Orleans food insecurity where she found transportation upgrades could be a positive force in the community. This project earned her a Senior Design Honorable Mention award.

Katy encourages other interns to lean into different opportunities to learn. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she said. “Everyone is willing to help! I would also say to stay curious. For example, I got to work on planning projects, which is something I would have never gotten to explore otherwise!”

Following her internship with BOUDREAUX, Katy leaves for Iceland and Norway to study historic sustainable sod/turf roof construction. After studying abroad, she will be returning to Clemson in the fall to pursue her Master of Architecture, where she’s hoping to learn more about mass timber construction.

We are so proud of Katy’s accomplishments and grateful for the contributions she’s made to our team. Watching her grow and reconnect with her work has been inspiring, and we can’t wait to see where her next journey takes her.