Building up the future: how DPR's internship program opens doors for tomorrow's construction leaders – DJC

October 13, 2025

Durbin

For many high school students, summer is a time for new experiences and growth. At DPR Construction, the Build Up High School Internship program is transforming what those experiences can look like — offering teens hands-on exposure to the construction industry, working alongside professionals on significant projects. Since its launch in 2017, Build Up has become a model for how construction firms can invest in the next generation and make the industry more inclusive.

A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR REAL-WORLD LEARNING

Build Up is an eight-week, paid internship designed for high school juniors and seniors. Interns spend their summer immersed in the realities of construction management, learning about project planning, technology, and the wide variety of roles available in the field. Since its inception, Build Up has introduced more than 160 students to the construction industry, with 22% returning as college interns and several joining DPR full-time. In 2025, the program welcomed 31 interns across the company.

Photo courtesy of DPR Construction [enlarge]

Selome Muruts visiting DPR Construction’s Vantage Data Centers WA13 Project.

Interns work full-time earning competitive hourly wages. The program is accessible to students whose family income meets HUD low-income standards, including those who may be the first in their families to attend college. Seventy-five percent of Build Up interns plan to be first-generation college students, and almost half are young women — a significant statistic in an industry where women have historically been underrepresented.

BUILDING SKILLS FOR SUCCESS
The Build Up program goes beyond technical training. Interns learn essential business skills, including communication, time management and navigating a professional environment. They complete a final presentation at the end of their internship, gaining experience in public speaking and project management. These experiences help students build confidence and prepare for future academic and career opportunities.
DPR’s approach is to treat high school interns with the same respect as college-aged interns. Participants are exposed to every facet of the jobsite, from safety procedures to the latest construction software and technology. The goal is to provide meaningful skills exposure and mentorship to students who might not otherwise consider a career in construction.
Interns report learning about managing multi-million-dollar projects, using innovative technology for planning and design, and the wide range of professional roles needed to build great things. Many gain experience with industry-standard tools, such as BIM 360, CMIC, HammerTech, and Primavera, which gives them a head start in both college and future careers.

FOSTERING INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY
DPR’s Community Initiatives Leader, Diane Shelton, emphasizes the program’s commitment to broadening possibilities for talented high school students who might not otherwise have access to professional internships.

Photo by Ashley Durbin [enlarge]

Selome Muruts presenting at Sawhorse Revolution’s Gingerbread Barn-Raiser Gala.

“Participant cohorts are also more diverse than our industry as a whole, which we hope will contribute to a shift as we welcome a new generation into AEC,” Shelton said. “They can help the construction workforce of the future look more like the communities we serve.”

LOCAL IMPACT: SELOME MURUTS’ STORY
In Seattle, Selome Muruts’ journey stands out as a powerful example of the program’s local impact.
Muruts first joined Build Up as a high school intern in 2023. She was unsure what to expect from the construction industry but eager to learn. As a student, she was always curious about the large projects unfolding across Seattle. Her interest was sparked by walking past the Seattle Convention Center Expansion project every day on her way to class. This led to her being part of the ACE mentorship program where she later learned about DPR’s Build Up internship program.
“I initiated conversations with project engineers, superintendents and safety managers at DPR — not knowing what to expect — but I received encouraging mentorship,” Muruts said. “It’s clear DPR’s values run deep, and I wanted to return to experience that dynamic on the office side.”
After completing a second high school internship with DPR, Muruts returned as a college intern, working with the Preconstruction and Virtual Design and Construction teams. “I applied for the DPR internship out of curiosity for the industry, but I came back because of my admiration for the company,” she said.
She is now pursuing a degree in civil engineering at the University of Washington.
“I’m excited to apply the knowledge I’ve learned through my internship experience to my college classroom work and future internships.”
Muruts’ experience reflects the program’s broader goals: providing mentorship, building confidence and opening doors for students who might not have considered construction as a career.

A LAUNCHPAD FOR THE FUTURE
As DPR continues to expand Build Up, our commitment to inclusion and education remains a central focus. For students in Seattle and across the country, it’s more than just a summer job — it’s a launchpad for a future in the construction industry.
With each new cohort, Build Up is helping to build a more diverse, skilled, and confident workforce —one that reflects the communities where DPR builds. The program’s success is measured not just in numbers, but in the stories of students like Selome Muruts, whose journey shows how real-world experience and mentorship can shape a career.

Ashley Durbin serves as an Estimator for DPR Construction’s Pacific Northwest region and chairs the Community Initiative Committee in Seattle.

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