Jesse Price and Keyshawn Lewis joined Trivers for the summer. Jesse, who graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a minor in urban design in May 2024 is Trivers’ CityStudioSTL Fellow focusing on civic- and community-centered projects. This is Keyshawn’s second summer as an architectural intern at Trivers. He recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and will soon begin the master’s degree in architectural studies program at WashU. Learn more about the work Jesse and Keyshawn are doing this summer in the Q&A below.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture?
Jesse: I took a somewhat convoluted path to get where I am today. I have always enjoyed watching HGTV and reading design magazines because it is interesting to think about all the ways you can shape the spaces you are in. However, I had a lot of other interests growing up, so I was not sure what I would end up doing. I started at WashU’s College of Arts and Sciences but ended up switching to the College of Architecture. I realized that architecture combines my desire for creative output and feeling like I am making an impact on peoples’ lives.
Q: Why did you decide to intern at Trivers for a second summer?
Keyshawn: I enjoyed my experience last year and wanted to come back. I learned a lot from the team, especially when it came to adaptive reuse. Before last summer, I had never worked on those types of projects, and I found myself getting very into them. Giving historic buildings new life really aligns with my interest in sustainable and community-based design.
Q: What interested you in the CityStudioSTL Fellowship?
Jesse: I wanted to do socially engaged work in St. Louis, which is a place I have gotten to know so well and care a lot about since I moved here from Columbus, Ohio, for school. Being involved in projects that further social equity and sustainability is exciting for me.
Q: What is your impression of Trivers’ new office at The Victor?
Keyshawn: It’s a great change of pace. I’m enjoying having access to all the tenant amenities like the fitness center and community spaces such as the outdoor courtyards, rooftop terrace and entertainment room. The new Trivers office is also larger and more open than the last, so it is easier to communicate and collaborate with the team.
Q: What are some projects you are working on this summer?
Jesse: I’m helping with the master plan for St. Louis Art Place Initiative, which seeks to create wealth and equity through homeownership for low- and moderate-income artists of all disciplines through the reuse and preservation of vacant and deteriorating properties. I’m also working with the American Cancer Society to develop a vision for their new Hope Lodge projects around the country.
Q: What does your day as an architectural intern typically look like?
Keyshawn: I’m helping the team with renderings and design for projects like the Clinton-Peabody housing redevelopment and Maplewood Public Library renovation. I am also creating renderings for a repositioning of an office building in downtown St. Louis. I’m working a lot with Dynamo, a visual programming plugin for designers. I’ve never used it before this summer, so I’m enjoying the challenge of learning something new.
Q: Would you recommend the CityStudioSTL Fellowship to others?
Jesse: Yes! The team at Trivers is amazing. They are not only your co-workers, but also your friends. I’m also really enjoying the work I’m doing. I feel like my voice matters here and that I can make a positive difference by contributing to socially engaged architecture projects.
Q: How will this internship help advance your career in architecture?
Keyshawn: I’ve had great real-world experience, especially with adaptive reuse and sustainable and community-based projects, that I would not be able to get in a classroom. The Trivers team is so knowledgeable, so it has been great to be able to pick their brains and make connections that will be beneficial in the future.
