Position Summary:

The Cultural Landscape Research Internship is a unique opportunity for graduate students in the field of architecture, landscape architecture, art, and/or museum studies to spend two months living and working at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory, National Historic Landmark, and UNESCO World Heritage site. Taliesin West is comprised of over 80,000 square feet of historic structures situated within 495 acres of pristine Sonoran desert in Scottsdale, AZ.

The Cultural Landscape Research Intern will continue the work from the previous year, working with a multidisciplinary team across the Preservation and Collections departments to help build a better understanding of the evolution of the landscape at Taliesin West. The intern will gain hands-on experience working with invaluable and historically significant collections. The projects completed by the intern will help lay the groundwork for a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR), support further research on historic landscapes, environmentalism, climate change, and help inform preservation and conservation interventions in the future.

NOTE: this position is approximately 8 weeks in duration (estimated to be mid-June through mid-August) and includes both onsite housing on the Taliesin West campus and an hourly stipend of $15.15 for up to 26 hours of work weekly. This year’s program may accommodate up to 1 internship participant for the season.

Essential Functions:

AutoCAD Landscaping Plan: Under the guidance of the Preservation Manager, survey the existing landscaping plantings in the historic core and update the 2013 landscaping plan with current conditions, noting changes from the previous plan.

• Photographic and primary document processing: Under the guidance of the Archivist, the intern will digitize and provide access to approximately 1,500 35mm slides from the Taliesin Associated Architects records held by the Collections department. The intern will ingest the images into the Foundation’s digital asset management system (Portfolio) and apply appropriate descriptive metadata using Dublin Core standards.
• Hands-on Landscaping: Guided by the Preservation Manager, work alongside Facilities Technicians periodically to care for the existing landscape, understand current preservation practices, and contextualize research findings through hands-on engagement.
• Additional projects may include reviewing and documenting the landscaping in Wright-era films, a saguaro survey, or other duties as assigned.
• Present findings: Create a presentation of visual and written materials to FLWF staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Enrollment in a graduate-level landscape architecture, architecture, preservation, art, museum studies, or related field; eligibility for university credit may exist depending on the academic internship requirements of the intern’s degree program (inquire for more details).
• Knowledge of arid climate landscaping and plants specific to the Sonoran Desert is a plus.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD working with existing base plans, layer systems, and sheet layouts in both model and paper space within a Windows environment.
• Proficiency in basic computer operation, navigation of online web services and applications, and utilization of software programs within a Windows environment.
• Demonstrated high levels of motivation, capable of working in a high energy environment, a creative and flexible thinker, able to work independently and within a supportive team, demonstrate attention to detail, and have strong research and organizational skills.
• Good written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility and curiosity.
• Interest in the architecture and ideas of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. 

• Physical Demands: While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and consistently talk or hear; and rarely taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.  
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• This position has minimal occupational contact with the public and other co-workers and is therefore determined to fall within the Lower Risk category as defined by OSHA. To further minimize risk, employees are required to follow the Foundation's Safe and Healthy Workplace guidelines and related personal and facility infection control policies.

This job description does not constitute a contract for employment with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation or any affiliate, either expressed or implied, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation reserves the right at any time to change, delete, or add to any of the provisions at its sole discretion. Furthermore, the provisions of this job description are designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to serve as guidelines rather than absolute rules, and exceptions may be made from time to time on the basis of particular circumstances.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.