Fresh Eyes on the Built Environment: A Conversation with G&T’s Summer Interns

Every summer, Gardiner & Theobald welcomes a new cohort into one of the industry’s most competitive internship programs. A few weeks in, we sat down with this year’s group to ask what they’re noticing about the work itself, the technology reshaping it, and the future they’ll help shape. Their answers were candid and sharp, and a useful reminder that the people who will run this industry are already paying close attention. Here’s what they told us.

What motivates you to do your best work?

Muhammed Qasim: Being in a good work environment. If I weren’t in the same office as these people, I probably wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much. Everyone around the office has been so welcoming, and that’s motivating in itself.

Max Lida: The ability to go up to whoever I need to — even if they’re busy, they’re willing to help.

Harrison Reilly: For me, it comes from putting my name on something. I want whatever my name is part of to be done well, so I’m willing to ask the questions and double-check things before it’s submitted — whether for a client or internally.

What’s a technology you think will change the way buildings are built or used?

Muhammed Qasim: I started using Togal.AI a few days ago, and I think it’s going to take construction to a whole new level. It might displace some jobs, but it could also create others, because it makes takeoffs so much easier. As an intern seeing all of this for the first time, it made everything much easier to understand.

What’s the biggest problem facing the built environment right now?

Harrison Reilly: On the cost side: when we have to remove certain chemicals once used in wall construction, finding alternatives — and shipping them in at high demand and volume — can get expensive. Then there’s meeting the client’s needs, because sometimes the older, cheaper approach is simply easier. There’s a real balance to weigh.

Jordyn Goldsmith: Building on that — costs have skyrocketed. When a project calls for things that can’t be compromised or substituted, and there’s no real alternative, it’s hard. If a client won’t bring down the scope, staying in budget becomes very difficult. That’s a growing issue as everything gets more expensive.

Harrison Reilly: And the biggest part of moving toward sustainable solutions is creativity. So much of what I’ve seen on G&T projects is out-of-the-box thinking — engineers and architects getting creative with what they have to build something new and sustainable while still meeting the regulations.

What does success look like to you in a professional setting?

Tommy O’Halloran: What’s impressed me here is how many people have stayed for so long — G&T was their first job, and they’ve been here 10, 11, even 15 years. Staying somewhere that long is a testament to a good relationship, and to success on both sides.

Connor Demming: Starting out as an assistant project or cost manager and seeing how much you can grow at one company — how knowledgeable you can become. To me, that defines success and hard work.

Harrison Reilly: For me it’s the responsibility and trust. Even as an intern in week two, being asked to show up to sites, give input in meetings, and contribute real numbers — it’s good to see that they want us genuinely involved.

What’s a building or space that has always stuck with you?

Tommy O’Halloran: I studied abroad in Barcelona, and the obvious one is the Sagrada Família. My apartment was ten blocks away, and it towers three times higher than everything around it — photos don’t do it justice. It’s been under construction for 125 years, and I got to see it just before it’s finished. Inside, it was like nothing I’d ever seen.

Connor Demming: Baha Mar in the Bahamas. I stayed there in 2018 when it was still new, and watching it grow since, with new elements being added, has been pretty cool.

Looking Ahead

Conversations like these are a valued part of our internship program, offering fresh perspectives while giving the next generation of professionals a meaningful introduction to the built environment. Their curiosity, enthusiasm, and thoughtful questions reflect the qualities that drive our industry forward. At Gardiner & Theobald, we are proud to invest in emerging talent and look forward to seeing where their careers take them. We extend our thanks to this year's interns for sharing their insights and for being part of the G&T community.

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