Longo International Architecture Internship participants Natalie DeLiso, M.Arch ’24, and Michael Thut, M.Arch ’24, share thoughts on their transformative experience with MASS Design Group in Kigali, Rwanda.
The partnership with MASS Design Group, a nonprofit firm based in Boston and Kigali, provides students with practical training at the forefront of public-interest architecture. Students are exposed to cultures, landscapes, socio-political considerations, environmental concerns, and other challenges that might differ from what they experience at home. These backgrounds are becoming increasingly critical with the growing international nature of architectural practice.
The program is made possible through a generous gift that created an endowed fund at Taubman College: the Longo International Architecture Internship Fund. A significant bequest has strengthened the fund, allowing more students to benefit from this gift in the future. Each year, two interns are selected through a competitive application process.
The internship with MASS Design Group in Rwanda in the summer of 2023 was a transformative experience for Natalie DeLiso, M.Arch ’24, and Michael Thut, M.Arch ’24, providing invaluable exposure to the practice outside of a U.S. context. For DeLiso, the internship provided avenues to converge her passions for design, health, and cultural exchange. Her collaborations on healthcare projects reinforced her conviction in the role of architecture as a means of achieving health equity for both communities and individuals, encouraging her to explore architectural paths in mission-driven contexts. In engaging with local artisans, she discovered the importance of handmade crafts within Rwandan culture, especially as a tool for empowering women through financial independence and community building.
For Thut, the internship in Rwanda was a memorable experience that went beyond the office. Immersed in Rwandan culture, he gained empathy and understanding by attending traditional weddings, exploring Rwandan cuisine, and engaging in conversations with locals. At MASS Design Group, Thut collaborated with talented leaders, strengthening his skills and approaches to early-education projects. His involvement in the schematic design phase of a kindergarten school showcased his creativity and problem-solving abilities with architecture program and structural engineering logics. Overall, the internship broadened his architectural knowledge and cultural horizons, shaping him both personally and professionally.
Both DeLiso and Thut had the opportunity to engage with built work firsthand: gaining insights into the challenges, successes, and life of projects post-construction. They appreciated the interdisciplinary nature of MASS Design Group, which facilitated meaningful collaborations and discussions and exemplified unique approaches to the discipline. Ultimately, the internship served as a catalyst for their growth, instilling in them a deeper understanding of global issues, the value of cultural exchange, and the transformative power of architecture in improving lives.
