Blueprint

Expanding educational opportunities for students in under-resourced communities

PCSD

Architecture Learning Experience

by

Who did you meet with today?

Cyrus Amani-Taleshi

Where do they work? What does the company do?

Cyrus works at LCA, and his company designs buildings; they also oversees the approval process for both large and small projects.

What did you learn today? What were some highlights?

We learn that being an architect is pretty cool and fun if you like to design, but it can also be frustrating sometimes.

What insights did you gain into the field of real estate development?

I learned that real estate development involves planning, teamwork, and understanding laws and finances. I also learned that projects take a lot of patience and problem solving.

What did you find the most interesting about the field in the field after today?

I learn that when architects are designing a building it takes a lot of patience and it can be difficult sometimes.

Three people stand in a colorful room, exploring a display case filled with small human figurines and models—a unique architecture education setting with green and yellow walls and birdhouse-like objects atop the case.
Interns stand in a room at LIghthouse.
Three young people stand and talk by glass doors in a brightly lit indoor space, suggesting a dynamic learning experience. Two wear hoodies, one black and one pink; the third, dressed all in black, looks toward the door. Part of a fourth person is visible on the right.
Interns view a space at Lighthouse.
Five people stand in a line indoors against a yellow and green wall, reflecting a unique experience of learning within vibrant architecture. Four face forward, while one person on the far right stands apart. Sunlight streams in onto the carpeted floor.
Blueprint team and Interns in hallway at Lighthouse.

Buying and Selling with Colliers

by

Who did you meet with today?

Today we met with the Colliers team

Where do they work? What does the company do?

Colliers works in Harrison Street and are commercial real estate brokers. Colliers help clients in buying, selling and leasing properties. They advise business clients on investments and developing opportunities

What did you learn today? What were some highlights?

I learned how brokers build strong relationships with clients to be able to negotiate deals soothingly. I also learned how their backgrounds and their skills that they learned contribute to their fields.

What insights did you gain into the field of real estate development?

I learned that brokers play a crucial role in development by connecting investors with properties. They need strong communication skills and the ability to take and manage risks.

What did you find the most interesting about the field after today?

What I found most interesting is how brokers use negotiation strategies to make deals go smoothing and how much trusts clients put in them.

Photos: Jose Burgos Arroyo

Five people sit around a conference table with papers and drinks, watching a man speak on a large video screen during the Day 2 Blog meeting. A cityscape is visible through the window behind them.
Colliers team talking about their careers.
A person with a backpack crouches on the floor of an unfinished, empty room, taking a close-up photo of an open booklet or magazine—perhaps researching buying tips from Colliers before making a decision.
Blueprint intern measuring the space

Behind the Scenes of Real Estate Development

by

Who did you meet with today?

Today, we met with Mary Grace Houlihan, Jennifer Afdahl Rice, and Michele Wray Khateri.

Where do they work? What does the company do?

Mary Grace, Jennifer, and Michele work for Blueprint. Mary Grace is the Northern California Project Director, Jennifer is the Executive Director for Northern California, and Michele is the Director of Fundraising and Strategic Initiatives. Blueprint is a real estate development firm, managing all aspects of facilities projects—site search, design, construction, and financing. Working alongside charter school partners, it has created 55,800 charter school seats and helped improve students’ education.

What did you learn today? What were some highlights?

Today, we learned about the field of real estate development, learning about all the different factors that go into making a single project. We learned about factors like social, economic, and environmental.

What insights did you gain into the field of real estate development?

I gained insight into the field of real estate development by learning that planning can require buildings to look similar and have a theme, thanks to zoning. I know why now. I would also say that I received more insight into how sites are selected and what factors decide whether they meet the standard or not, for example, the approval of neighbors or the soil (if it has chemicals or if it is not stable enough). Overall, I got to learn many factors involved in deciding if a site is acceptable enough.

What did you find the most interesting about the field in the field after today?

After today, what I found most interesting was learning about the background of Blueprint and learning about their impact, learning about how much they have helped communities and allowed students at charter schools to receive an education.

Photos: Chris Bautista, Spring Intern

Seven people pose inside a large wooden frame marked #plankoakland, in front of a red wall on a sunny Day 1—perfect for a blog post about new adventures.
Blueprint team and spring interns pose in front of #plankoakland sign.
Five people stand side by side in front of a small wooden log cabin, with palm trees and a clear sky behind them. Casually dressed and smiling in the sunlight, this Day 1 blog post captures their excitement as their adventure begins.
Spring interns stand in front of a small wooden log cabin where Jack London lived.

 

An Introduction to Project Finance Coordination

by

Who did you meet with today?

Today we met with Scott Thomas, who works in financing. Thomas works as a project finance coordinator.

Where do they work? What does the company do?

Thomas works in Blueprint. Blueprint is a development firm that helps schools with most aspects of their projects.

What did you learn today? What were some highlights?

Today I learned what a contingency is, which is a safety valve just incase anything unexpected comes up in the project. A highlight was when we got to see the spreadsheet of the budget; it was nice getting to see a real project’s budget and the process. Another highlight I would like to mention was when my peers and I asked Thomas questions; it was really insightful and even let us get a preview into who we would meet next.

What are you looking forward to most during the internship?

During the internship I am now looking most forward to meeting with Blueprint’s lawyer and the other lawyer we will get to meet with.

What insights did you gain into the field of real estate development?

In the field of real estate development, I gained insights such as what struggles the project finance coordinator faces while communicating with the school. I also received insight into how the finance project coordinator tracks the budget and the different factors that allow the school to stay within their budget affordably.

What did you find the most interesting about the field after today?

After today, what I find most interesting about the field is how the project finance coordinator ultimately works as the middleman between the loaners and the school and how they play a key role in allowing the school to meet their financial goal to finish their project.

Photos: Jose Burgos Arroyo, Spring Intern

Scott Thomas presenting to the interns on project finance
Scott Thomas sharing his career pathway
Scott Thomas sharing the flow of money through a project

Opening Doors: Hosting Ednovate Students at Blueprint

by

Blueprint had the pleasure of hosting six engaged and curious high school students from one of our charter school partners, Ednovate USC Hybrid High School, for a day of learning, conversation, and career exploration.

The visit was designed as a “mini internship day,” giving students a behind-the-scenes look at how real estate development and urban planning work in practice — and, more importantly, who makes it happen.

Understanding the Development Ecosystem

Throughout the day, students explored the full lifecycle of a project — from site selection and due diligence to financing, construction, and final delivery. They learned that bringing a project to life requires far more than a single profession. Developers, project managers, architects, planners, lenders, brokers, contractors, lawyers, and community engagement professionals all play critical roles.

By mapping out this ecosystem, students began to see that shaping the built environment is truly a team effort — and that there are many pathways into the field.

Pathways into the Profession

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was hearing directly from Blueprint team members about their career journeys. Staff shared how they found their way into real estate development, what their day-to-day work looks like, and the challenges and rewards of working in this industry.

Students asked thoughtful questions about education paths, required skills, and what it takes to enter the field. Several were especially interested in learning how development intersects with public policy, community impact, and equity in Los Angeles.

A few students also expressed interest in Blueprint’s summer internship program — an exciting reminder that early exposure can spark real possibilities.

Connecting Projects to Personal Experience

For many students, one of the most powerful moments was hearing the story behind the creation of their own campus. Understanding the process, partnerships, and problem-solving that went into developing a space they use every day brought the industry to life in a tangible way.

It underscored an important message: the buildings and spaces that shape our communities don’t appear overnight. They are the result of collaboration, persistence, and vision.

Beyond Buildings

At Blueprint, our work extends beyond the physical structures we help create. Days like this reflect our commitment to opening doors and expanding awareness of career opportunities within the real estate development ecosystem.

We are grateful to our team members who generously shared their time, insights, and personal stories. Their willingness to engage candidly with students made the experience authentic and impactful.

Investing in the next generation of planners, builders, designers, and community leaders is part of building stronger communities. We look forward to continuing these partnerships and creating more opportunities for students to see themselves in this work.

Photography courtesy of Mychal Shorts.

 

A man in a navy polo shirt presents the Blueprint for Site Selection Criteria in a modern office. Hosting Ednovate Students, he gestures beside a large screen as laptops line the table in the glass-walled room.
John shares about site selection criteria.

 

A man in a black hoodie gestures toward a large screen displaying a Blueprint presentation slide titled Acquisition – 2016-2017, featuring aerial images and property details, in a modern office hosting Ednovate Students.
Scott shares about the budgeting process.
A woman stands behind a podium, hosting a presentation for Ednovate Students in a bright room with large windows and palm trees outside. She gestures as she speaks, with a laptop open in front of her.
Stephanie shares about the recent delivery of one of our charter school facility projects.
A man in a light blue shirt speaks animatedly to a group in a modern office setting, hosting an engaging session. In the foreground, people listen intently, including an Ednovate Student with a bright yellow bow in their hair.
Joe shares about pre-development work.