Built Ecology Intern - Summer 2025 - WSP USA
Chicago, IL
About the Job
This Opportunity
WSP USA hosts hundreds of internships across the United States to gain hands-on, meaningful work experience to enhance their education and professional aptitude. Our interns gain exposure to real projects while working side by side with senior staff. Through our Developing Professionals Network, interns gain mentorship, networking opportunities and lifelong career connections.
Our Buildings Team is seeking a Full Time Built Ecology Intern - Summer 2025 to work out of our Seatle, WA office. The following locations will also be considered: Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City . This temporary position is seeking individuals currently enrolled in an Undergraduate or Graduate degree program.
This internship will be part of the WSP Summer Internship Program. As a summer intern, you have the opportunity to participate in our 12-week program scheduled to start on May 19th, 2025. The individual start date of the internship may be flexible.
Built Ecology is WSP's national Built Environment Sustainability team, providing a broad range of services including sustainability consulting, high-performance design and analysis, building certifications, district-scale solutions, education, facilitation, and project management. We work across a wide range of project types and scales, from horizontal planning and district infrastructure to vertical design and construction, to ongoing performance and operations. Built Ecology has been directly responsible for driving many leading projects across the globe, including LEED Platinum buildings, Living buildings Challenge and WELL projects, net-zero water and energy projects, EcoDistricts, corporate initiatives, and improvements for large building portfolios. Our solutions are typically innovative, integrated, and practical.
Our team takes a unique approach on all our projects. We influence strategic decisions for the design of buildings and neighborhoods, infrastructure and landscapes, and organizational outcomes. Through our internship program, we offer an opportunity to experience built environment sustainability services (strategy, analysis, design and implementation) in a project delivery context.
Your Impact
+ Support a variety of engineering tasks with the goal to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
+ Learn basic principles of Built Ecology.
+ Assist with project research, field work, and preliminary design calculations and analysis.
+ Support preparation of final design plans, special provisions, and cost estimates.
+ Assist in collecting and maintaining project documentation.
+ Manage a variety of specific tasks with oversight from several project managers
+ Support sustainability strategy development and certification efforts (e.g. LEED, WELL, Fitwel, NZE)
+ Assist with renewable energy analysis and carbon neutral building assessments
+ Develop strategic and technical recommendations for projects that is thoughtful, creative, practical, and effective
+ Facilitate conversations between multiple stakeholders to devise sustainability strategies
+ Produce high quality, visually compelling presentations, and deliverables
+ Application of existing technical skills to projects in a professional setting and development of additional relevant technical skills
+ Gain experience in analysis methods & tools, reporting writing, and presentations related to sustainability
+ Develop teamwork skills required to create compelling deliverables and engage with clients and project teams
+ Learn the fundamental principles and tools used for computational design and advanced buildings analytic
+ Complete training on assigned tasks.
+ Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
+ Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
+ Please note that there is no relocation or housing assistance associated with this internship.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
+ Actively enrolled in an accredited Green Building Design, Engineering, Sustainability Management, Built Ecology or related Undergraduate, Master's or PhD program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2025.
+ Must be 18 or older.
+ Demonstrated interest in Green Building Design, Engineering, Sustainability Management, or related field and have a strong desire to advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.
+ Comfortable presenting ideas, projects and solutions to clients and executives in a polished, professional manner.
+ Proficient self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
+ Ability to work independently under minimal supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
+ Advanced proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
+ Familiarity with MS Office Suite
+ Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with an emphasis on the ability to organize and present design information to clients
+ Pursuing a degree in green building design, engineering, sustainability management or a related field
+ Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
+ Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
+ Authorization to work in the United States at the start of the internship.
Preferred Qualifications
+ Ability to use Adobe Creative Suite for reports and presentations.
+ Computer 3D model creation and development.
+ Scripting and coding (e.g. Python or Grasshopper)
+ Knowledge of the building design and construction process.
+ Knowledge of third-party green building rating systems (LEED, Passive House, LBC, WELL, Fitwel etc.)
+ Experience with energy, carbon, daylight, and CFD modeling software and analysis.
+ Extensive experience with Excel and data analysis.
Compensation:
Expected Salary (all locations): $19.13 - $30.00
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of Colorado, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
About WSP
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
www.wsp.com
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
WSP USA hosts hundreds of internships across the United States to gain hands-on, meaningful work experience to enhance their education and professional aptitude. Our interns gain exposure to real projects while working side by side with senior staff. Through our Developing Professionals Network, interns gain mentorship, networking opportunities and lifelong career connections.
Our Buildings Team is seeking a Full Time Built Ecology Intern - Summer 2025 to work out of our Seatle, WA office. The following locations will also be considered: Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City . This temporary position is seeking individuals currently enrolled in an Undergraduate or Graduate degree program.
This internship will be part of the WSP Summer Internship Program. As a summer intern, you have the opportunity to participate in our 12-week program scheduled to start on May 19th, 2025. The individual start date of the internship may be flexible.
Built Ecology is WSP's national Built Environment Sustainability team, providing a broad range of services including sustainability consulting, high-performance design and analysis, building certifications, district-scale solutions, education, facilitation, and project management. We work across a wide range of project types and scales, from horizontal planning and district infrastructure to vertical design and construction, to ongoing performance and operations. Built Ecology has been directly responsible for driving many leading projects across the globe, including LEED Platinum buildings, Living buildings Challenge and WELL projects, net-zero water and energy projects, EcoDistricts, corporate initiatives, and improvements for large building portfolios. Our solutions are typically innovative, integrated, and practical.
Our team takes a unique approach on all our projects. We influence strategic decisions for the design of buildings and neighborhoods, infrastructure and landscapes, and organizational outcomes. Through our internship program, we offer an opportunity to experience built environment sustainability services (strategy, analysis, design and implementation) in a project delivery context.
Your Impact
+ Support a variety of engineering tasks with the goal to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
+ Learn basic principles of Built Ecology.
+ Assist with project research, field work, and preliminary design calculations and analysis.
+ Support preparation of final design plans, special provisions, and cost estimates.
+ Assist in collecting and maintaining project documentation.
+ Manage a variety of specific tasks with oversight from several project managers
+ Support sustainability strategy development and certification efforts (e.g. LEED, WELL, Fitwel, NZE)
+ Assist with renewable energy analysis and carbon neutral building assessments
+ Develop strategic and technical recommendations for projects that is thoughtful, creative, practical, and effective
+ Facilitate conversations between multiple stakeholders to devise sustainability strategies
+ Produce high quality, visually compelling presentations, and deliverables
+ Application of existing technical skills to projects in a professional setting and development of additional relevant technical skills
+ Gain experience in analysis methods & tools, reporting writing, and presentations related to sustainability
+ Develop teamwork skills required to create compelling deliverables and engage with clients and project teams
+ Learn the fundamental principles and tools used for computational design and advanced buildings analytic
+ Complete training on assigned tasks.
+ Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
+ Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
+ Please note that there is no relocation or housing assistance associated with this internship.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
+ Actively enrolled in an accredited Green Building Design, Engineering, Sustainability Management, Built Ecology or related Undergraduate, Master's or PhD program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2025.
+ Must be 18 or older.
+ Demonstrated interest in Green Building Design, Engineering, Sustainability Management, or related field and have a strong desire to advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.
+ Comfortable presenting ideas, projects and solutions to clients and executives in a polished, professional manner.
+ Proficient self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
+ Ability to work independently under minimal supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
+ Advanced proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
+ Familiarity with MS Office Suite
+ Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with an emphasis on the ability to organize and present design information to clients
+ Pursuing a degree in green building design, engineering, sustainability management or a related field
+ Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
+ Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
+ Authorization to work in the United States at the start of the internship.
Preferred Qualifications
+ Ability to use Adobe Creative Suite for reports and presentations.
+ Computer 3D model creation and development.
+ Scripting and coding (e.g. Python or Grasshopper)
+ Knowledge of the building design and construction process.
+ Knowledge of third-party green building rating systems (LEED, Passive House, LBC, WELL, Fitwel etc.)
+ Experience with energy, carbon, daylight, and CFD modeling software and analysis.
+ Extensive experience with Excel and data analysis.
Compensation:
Expected Salary (all locations): $19.13 - $30.00
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of Colorado, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
About WSP
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
www.wsp.com
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
Source : WSP USA
