Intern - Summer 2026 Architectural Design

Elmington•Nashville, TN

20h

About The Position

Elmington Development is seeking a Summer Design Intern to join our in-house Design team. This role is ideal for a current Architecture student interested in working on the developer side of the design and construction process. Unlike a traditional architecture firm setting, this internship offers exposure to how design decisions are made from an ownership and development perspective — balancing aesthetics, budget, constructability, and long-term operational performance across a portfolio of active multifamily projects. POSITION SUMMARY: To be eligible, candidates must be rising juniors or seniors (expected graduation date between December 2026 and August 2027) at the time of the internship. Successful interns may be considered for future full-time opportunities following graduation. Overview We are seeking a detail-oriented Architectural Design Intern to join our team for a focused summer project from June 1 through July 31. This internship offers hands-on experience will support the Design Director in overseeing multiple projects throughout all phases of development to ensure Elmington’s standards of design are achieved from early concepts through completed construction. The program concludes with a final presentation to senior stakeholders.

Requirements

Rising junior or senior (or rising 4th or 5th year if in a 5 year arch program) Currently enrolled in an Architecture or Interior Design program
Interest in pursuing a career as a designer or architect working for a developer
Strong organizational and communication skills
Ability to manage multiple tasks across concurrent projects
Comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders.
Highly organized with attention to detail.
Willingness to travel locally (up to 25%).

Responsibilities

Assisting in the review of architectural and interior design drawing sets (SD through CDs)
Helping maintain and apply Elmington’s design standards across multiple projects
Participating in coordination with project teams including: Architects Interior Designers Construction Team Third-party consultants and vendors
Supporting material and finish selections
Attending budget reviews
Assisting with mock-up reviews and design quality control during construction
Helping track design updates, value engineering efforts, and change order impacts
Attending internal and external project coordination meetings
Deliver a comprehensive summary of financial insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders at the end of the program.
During the first two weeks, travel locally within Nashville (up to 25%) for on-site financial reviews and team meetings.