Meet Our 2026 Summer Intern

The L’Enfant Trust routinely offers internships to undergraduate and graduate students, or community members, passionate about Historic Preservation, Urban Planning, Real Estate, Architecture, or related fields. Meet our 2026 summer intern, Shruti Shah!

 

Tell us a little about yourself and your academic background.

Having lived in the D.C. area my whole life, I’ve always been fascinated by the diversity of buildings I get to see. Neoclassical monuments, colorful homes full of character, infinite glass windows – I’ve always felt that D.C. has it all. Growing up seeing buildings like these influenced my decision to pursue architecture. I recently completed my first year at the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where I’ve already learned an incredible amount about what it means to curate a meaningful space. Aside from that, I spend a lot of my time creating art, working at my local bookstore, and writing.

 

What excites you most about interning with The L’Enfant Trust this summer, and what are you hoping to learn?

When I originally became aware of The L’Enfant Trust and the work that they do, I knew I wanted to learn more. I believe that historic preservation, particularly in D.C. where there is so much to remember, is a vital part of growth in architecture, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of that. What I’m most excited for is being able to see the real-life effects of preservation on historic areas in D.C. It can be difficult to grasp the real implications of architecture on a community, so I’m really looking forward to seeing just how the Trust’s work is making the city a better place. In addition, I’m hoping to learn more about the technical side of preserving spaces in a city, such as who is involved and the formal steps to be followed.

 

What drew you to historic preservation and/or architecture?

I love houses. Understanding how they serve people, create an environment, and allow us to live within art is what drew me into studying architecture. To me, historic preservation has always been part of that; a space means nothing without its history, and I strongly believe that by preserving it, we as a community have the power to create architecture that looks towards the future by recognizing the past. Growing up in a small town, I hadn’t realized just how much history was memorialized all around me; from a renovated town hall to a historic train track, I’ve come to understand just how much the preservation in my area has influenced my understanding of what it means to exist in a shared space. By studying architecture, I hope to develop that understanding and use it to create.

 

What is your favorite historic building and/or place, and why?

During my first year at UVA, I lived at the International Residential College (IRC), where I had the unique opportunity and privilege of becoming familiar with Morea House. This historic home built in the early 1800s has served as many things; a home for one of UVA’s original faculty members, a residence for the IRC Principal, and, most importantly, a space for UVA students. During my time at the IRC, our principal made it a priority to create an open, welcoming space for students to study, gather for formal dinners, or even just to chat. Because of this, I was able to spend time in this beautiful home filled with years of history and have truly grown to love the space as a student of architecture. I will always be grateful for my time there and would definitely recommend others to check it out!