REA

As a new school year begins, our summer 2024 interns have completed their final capstone presentations and are heading back to their universities to continue their journeys. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Jarin, Jillian, Antonio, and Michaela for their enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and the value they brought to our team and projects. It’s always invigorating to see our work through fresh perspectives!

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(from left to right in picture above)

Jarin Tumpa, Landscape Architecture Intern: Master of Landscape Architecture at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Fine & Applied Arts (FAA)

Jillian Andriot, Landscape Architecture Intern: Bachelor’s of landscape architecture candidate at Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning (CAP)

Antonio Scanziani, Planning Intern: Master of City and Regional Planning Candidate at Cornell University School of Architecture Art & Planning (AAP).

Michaela Tsapatsaris, Planning Intern: Bachelor’s of Urban and Regional Studies candidate at Cornell University School of Architecture Art & Planning (AAP).

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We asked each of them to share their reflections on their summer with REA:

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What skill or knowledge have you gained from this experience?

JT: I have learned how to make graphics more efficiently and faster. Also, I have familiarized myself with time management in a professional setting, which I believe will be helpful for the rest of my career.

JA: I’ve greatly expanded my CAD drafting skills and Photoshop rendering skills, and I’ve gotten some practice in Excel and InDesign. I’ve had opportunities to create CAD details, cost estimates, conceptual and schematic plan renderings, and InDesign presentation boards. Having other interns in the office to share this experience with has been very supportive, and it’s helped me connect with peers from other universities.

AS: I gained more knowledge about the interrelation between politics and planning, and demographic analysis.

MT: With the patience of my coworkers, I became more familiar with many technical skills that I will use throughout the rest of my professional life. For example, I am more comfortable using GIS and have learned many new features that I was not aware of prior to my internship.

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What notable project(s) have you worked on this summer?

JT: Among the projects I worked on with REA, I most enjoyed working on the Petersburg Downtown Park. Overall, I learned how the landscape design of a site creates a vision for the community and has a larger impact on the urban environment.

JA: I had the opportunity to travel to Spencer County with Cecil Penland and Andrea Eageny for a public focus group meeting, and I visited the active Hopewell Redevelopment construction site in Bloomington, IN.

AS: The most notable projects that I worked on were the New Harmony, Greenfield, and LaPorte Comprehensive Plans.

MT: One notable project I worked on this summer was the City of La Porte Comprehensive Plan. I started working at REA around the time that the project had kicked off, so I was able to see the beginning stages of a comprehensive plan development. From the kickoff meeting to collecting existing data, the discovery phase proved to be a pivotal part of the plan development.

Tell us about your capstone project. How will you benefit from this project; and what research will it provide REA?

JT: My capstone project was “Kentucky Ave Greenway: Repurposing the Leftover Landscapes for Stormwater Management.” This project aims to manage stormwater along both sides of Kentucky Avenue in Indianapolis by integrating a bioretention corridor and an infiltration corridor. It also provides public access to some natural wetlands and parks in southwest Indy through a shared-use trail.

JA: The internship capstone project definitely sets REA apart from other internship opportunities. For my capstone, “Beyond Installation: An Evaluation of Stormwater Plant Palettes,” I analyzed some of the stormwater plants used in REA’s past projects, such as the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. I noticed that REA has a few typical plant mixes and individual species that the firm tends to repeatedly specify, contributing to our design signature. However, there is little research on which of these plant palettes have stood the test of time and those that have declined over the years. Therefore, "Beyond Installation" seeks to bridge this gap by studying the post-occupancy performance of a selection of REA's stormwater plant palettes. Based on this analysis, I recommended which bioretention plant species should be reused, avoided, or suggestions for change. At the end, I felt truly proud of my work – that I had contributed something meaningful to the firm’s knowledge and to my own.

AS: My project, “Circle Center Mall: Revitalization Proposal,” is a proposal and framework for how to revitalize a dying commercial development typology in an urban setting. Utilizing case studies, urban design principles, and site analysis, the proposal focuses on improving the economic viability of the mall by differentiating the experience of the shopping center through a better dining and retail experience and transforms the identity of CCM to function as a town square. I demonstrated ways to add value and increase the success of commercial and mixed-use real estate through design which REA can develop further to pursue more commercial real estate projects looking to transform their mall or shopping center's identity.

MT: My capstone, “Imagining Downtown Indianapolis as a 15-minute City,” explored walkability improvements through development recommendations and opportunities. In my research I discovered that in order to truly realize a 15-minute city, behaviors and policy must also change. I was able to practice visualizing data on GIS maps to create this project. The data collected displays the gaps in service across all basic needs, so the discoveries are applicable to anyone who works or lives in Downtown Indianapolis.

What’s been your favorite experience during this internship?

JT: Working on different types of projects and engaging myself in different phases of those projects has been a great learning experience for me. I have also had some experience with client meetings and construction site meetings, which I think is highly important to understand practical projects before my last semester of school.

JA: The environment of the Indy office is incredibly welcoming and uplifting; everyone has been so friendly and willing to help me learn and grow. I especially appreciated the multi-disciplinary aspect of REA, which allowed me to connect with both peers and professionals in the urban planning field. Every day is a little different, and I never felt like I was stuck doing the same projects or tasks over and over again. One day, the office even took a kayak trip down the White River together!

AS: I enjoyed learning from my coworkers, they are all very knowledgeable. The meetings about projects where we discussed how to go about certain tasks and analysis, were very informative.

MT: My favorite experience during this internship was the Community Planning week for Anderson Comprehensive Plan. Having a week that was fully committed to a deep dive into a specific community allowed me to learn more things the community we were working in and, more broadly, the practice of planning itself.

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What did you enjoy about living and working in Indianapolis?

JT: As I am used to living in a campus town, I wanted to move to a city that is not very busy or huge in size. Downtown Indy has been so comfortable for me as it is very walk-friendly. I checked out many of the public activities throughout the summer in Indy.

JA: I’ve had a lot of fun visiting the local restaurants, cafes, and shops in Indy with my coworkers during lunch breaks and after hours.

AS: Indianapolis has an interesting urban landscape – the parts of the city that cut the street grid into six branches makes for some fascinating places. I enjoyed walking through the city and seeing the different neighborhoods and areas of high activity. I also really enjoyed living on a river and canal; I was amazed to discover it’s possible to walk all the way into the downtown from the river trail. The connectivity and walkability in Indianapolis are some things I really enjoyed as an urban enthusiast.