Sam Lubell pens an opinion piece for The Architect's Newspaper examining the ethical and cultural implications of unpaid internships in the architecture profession.
Seeing unpaid (and underpaid) internships, which have become a "right of passage," as a catch-22, Lubell evaluates the positive and negative aspects of what has "become a staple of architecture."
Lubell sees the widespread practice as aiding in lowering the value of architecture altogether. "It's just the tip of the iceberg in a profession that seems intent on continuously lowering the bar, from allowing others to call themselves architects to loosening requirements on the need for registered architects..."
"Architect Alvin Huang of LA firm Synthesis explained how not paying young architects feeds an ongoing cycle: 'We'll draw it and revise a thousand times because it is part of our process. And part of our process is enabled by exploitation. It becomes a cyclical burden that is packaged as a rite of passage, and that institutionalizes exploitation in the culture of design.' He added, 'I think there is a clear metaphor that relates to figuratively living beyond your means.'"
Kevin Fitzgerald, director of the AIA's Center for Emerging Professionals, suggests that earning college credit in exchange for internship duties can be an ethical way to compensate interns for their work.
Disclosure: Planetizen offers limited-term unpaid editorial internship positions and prefers candidates who receive college credit in exchange for their service.
FULL STORY: Editorial> The Intern Catch-22

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie