University of Cincinnati
10/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/27/2026 15:46
Design your workforce with co-op
Design your workforce with co-op
How a Chicago architecture firm keeps fresh ideas flowing with UC co-op
6 minute read October 27, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print Story Like
Chicago-based firm bKL Architecture prides itself on running a little differently, self-described as "continually inviting different perspectives and new ideas."
University of Cincinnati alumna and bKL associate director Olivia Kempf said that fresh viewpoints from student employees help drive that vision. She's speaking from personal experience - Kempf was the firm's first co-op employee back in 2011.
Kempf got hands-on experience at UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) through cooperative education, or co-op. UC pioneered this educational model more than a century ago combining classroom instruction with full-time employment. For Kempf, co-op kick-started her career through opening doors for opportunity even during tough times.
"It was a rough time for architecture students in general," Kempf recalled. "Employment in commercial architecture was hard to come by back then, still coming off the 2008 recession." The firm was only a year old at that point and trying to build up its clientele in a difficult economic environment.
Kempf said that the firm's studio environment is reminiscent of her time at DAAP. Photo/bKL Architecture
"What I love about bKL is that everybody is always open to ideas and thoughts from the younger staff," she said. "The way that the firm is structured is great for interns and also benefits the firm because you get a lot of new ideas and skill sets coming in. The firm is structured to adapt to that kind of thing and to be open to students' input. I never felt like just an intern."
She worked at bKL through her UC co-op, came back as an intern during her master's degree education and finally returned as a full-time employee in 2016. As she was growing, so was the company. Kempf described each stint with the firm as like a whole new experience every time, despite coming back to the same place.
"Each time, the firm had grown and I'd grown," Kempf said. "I'd gotten older, gotten more confident and had more knowledge of the city as well."
UC co-op program: Frequently Asked Questions
What is co-op at the University of Cincinnati? right arrow down arrowUC defines cooperative education, or co-op, as meaningful, career-oriented, compensated workplace experiences. Co-op is a structured program where students complete academic coursework and get a paid job in their field of study, graduating with both a degree and real-world professional experience.
Find more info: What is co-op in college? How cooperative education works
Many UC co-ops are paid, full-time roles. Students often use co-op earnings to help cover tuition and living expenses, which can reduce the need for loans and improve the overall return on investment of their degree.
Learn more: How cooperative education and paid experience change the ROI equation
Co-op is deeply integrated into programs in engineering, design, information technology, business, arts, sciences and more, with support from the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies. UC is committed to offering all students career-building, real-world experiences related to their field.
UC students co-op in Cincinnati, across Ohio, throughout the U.S. and abroad with employers ranging from startups, design studios and nonprofits to hospitals, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies.
By graduation, many Bearcats have up to 1.5 years of career-related experience, strong resumes and professional networks. A significant number receive full-time job offers from their co-op employers, which is why the University of Cincinnati is widely recognized as the global founder of cooperative education and a national leader in co-ops and internships.
Today, she helps bring in the next generation of talent, taking on the role of hiring manager after returning full time.
"I've tried to maintain the relationship with UC because the co-op schedule just works great for us," she said. "The UC students are very well-rounded. They have design and representation skills that are really important for what we do day-to-day."
Having been in their shoes, she understands the scramble of moving 300 miles for a job opportunity in the middle of their education. But to Kempf and the dozens of other UC alumni that have done it, it's totally worth it.
"BKL has a studio environment that is really reminiscent of what happens at the architecture school," Kempf said. "It was a good transition into the workforce."
She said the implementation of industry-standard programs into UC coursework helps make the transition into the workforce easier. "UC has provided a really good foundation for the students," she said. "When they come to work for their co-op, they have the chance to grow into a designer role, try out different things and see what they like."
Industry ready before graduation
bKL builds for commercial, residential, mixed-use properties and more. Photo/Tom Rossiter
One of Kempf's newest hires at the firm is Paul Minnick, a DAAP grad from the class of 2026 who co-oped with bKL, and then came back again, and again.
DAAP's architecture program embeds three co-ops into its schedule, and bKL was Minnick's second.
"I ended up coming back for the third co-op and then for full time once I graduated last May," Minnick said. "Since I had those two prior experiences at bKL, it felt like instead of having to relearn everything again, I was able to kind of just get running as soon as I came back."
Minnick ended up at DAAP after attending DAAPcamps in high school, albeit having been begrudgingly signed up by his mom. But he ended up loving the camp and the mentors he got to work with.
"It was an amazing experience," he said. "I fell in love with DAAP's studio setup immediately. It led me to come to UC."
I just couldn't have asked for a better start to my career.
Olivia Kempf UC alumna and bKL associate director
When he discovered bKL as an option for co-op, the firm's philosophy of taking in every team member's ideas caught his attention.
"One of the things that drew me to bKL the first time was being able to have an impact as somebody who's just starting out," Minnick said. "And ever since I've been here, I've been rewarded with more responsibility and contributions."
"Our firm has a pretty fast-paced design environment, and the co-op students bring fresh ideas," Kempf said. As hiring manager, she's seen multiple co-op students and interns go through a journey similar to her own.
"I've just been given opportunity after opportunity. The co-op structure and the firm structure really worked to support students and worked to support me specifically," Kempf said. "I just couldn't have asked for a better start to my career."
Your career is next
Through one of the nation's most robust co-op programs, UC students don't just learn about their future - they live it, alternating classroom study with real, career-shaping experience in industries around the world.
Students: Earn while you learn at UC.
Employers: Find your next hire.
Featured image at top of the Dylan, a residential downtown Chicago building by bKL. Photo/Tom Rossiter
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