Eleanor Phetteplace Returns to GNCB for Second Internship 

GNCB is excited to welcome back Eleanor Phetteplace of Roger Williams University (RWU) for her second summer internship. Ms. Phetteplace completed her first internship with us last summer. Over the past semester, Ms. Phetteplace had the opportunity to study abroad in Scotland’s capital city at the University of Edinburgh. While abroad, she was enrolled in five courses and also joined one of the University’s choirs. When able, Ms. Phetteplace traveled to and explored several European countries including Scotland, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, England, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Ms. Phetteplace was enrolled in the following courses at the University of Edinburgh: Conceptual Design and Sustainability for Civil Engineers, Engineering Geology and Surveying, Culture and Performance in the History of Construction, Environmental Engineering, and Water Resources. All of these courses granted Ms. Phetteplace a new perspective and learning environment at a university much different from her own. The objective of her Conceptual Design and Sustainability for Civil Engineers (CDS) course was to create a better understanding of the components of design solutions. Through the use of five projects over the duration of the course, CDS focused on improving the understanding of the role of design-drivers such as cost, end-of-life decommissioning, social impact, feasibility, and environmental impact and streamline project analytics. Some of the projects included the design of a timber parking garage in central Edinburgh, a tourism cable car over a scenic but active river opening, and a water tower. Ms. Phetteplace feels this course will aid her in her work at GNCB.

During her time abroad, Ms. Phetteplace was able to observe applications of what she has learned from previous studies and prior experiences with GNCB. Cathedrals were her favorite sites to visit and she looks forward to beginning a project with GNCB at the Apostolic Cathedral of Hope in New London, CT. She also enjoyed seeing local architectural styles, municipal buildings, and monuments with much longer histories than she has had the opportunity to work with in the United States. Ms. Phetteplace hopes her time abroad will give her a greater perspective on her future work in the field of preservation engineering.