Intern Spotlight: Meet Barmey Chum

At Thoughtbarn, we believe it's important to stay involved in our local chapters and to consistently touch base with Austin's growing pool of talent. This season, we’re excited to introduce Barmey Chum, our latest intern from UT's residency program. We sat down with Barmey at the halfway point of his internship to learn more about his background, inspirations, and experience at TB so far.

From Cambodia to Design Exploration

Barmey’s journey into architecture began in Cambodia, where he spent the first ten years of his life before moving to the U.S. Settling first in Washington, D.C., and later in Austin, he discovered his love for sketching early on—often drawing things outside like houses, trees, cars-- whatever caught his eye.  

“I wasn’t that good at drawing, but my grandma kept praising me,” Barmey recalls. “She made me want to continue.” He honed his artistic skills, later expanding into 3D modeling and design. It was a family friend who introduced him to architecture as a career path.

A Passion for Rebuilding and Public Spaces

Growing up, Barmey witnessed rapid reconstruction in Cambodia following years of civil conflict. Seeing his home country evolve left a lasting impression on him, inspiring his interest in architecture as a way to shape communities.

“A lot of my childhood friends also went into architecture,” he notes. “There’s a rich background of architecture in Cambodian history, and I wanted to learn more about that while also exploring modern design.”

Now a fourth-year student at the University of Texas at Austin, Barmey appreciates UT’s theory-based approach to architecture, which encourages broad applications of design. “It’s not just about construction,” he explains. “We can apply these skills to artwork, sculpture, even fashion or web design.”

Joining Thoughtbarn: Learning Through Hands-On Experience

Through UT’s residency program, Barmey was matched with Thoughtbarn, a placement that perfectly aligned with his desire to gain hands-on experience at a firm with diverse projects.

“I didn’t expect to be placed at a smaller firm, but I’m so glad I was,” he shares. “I get to be more closely involved in projects, rather than just being part of a huge team where I might not get to do much.”

In his first three months at Thoughtbarn, Barmey has already gained invaluable experience, particularly in technical drawing—a skill he identified as an area for growth.

“I realized that my portfolio lacked technical drawings—things like dimensions, structural details, and layouts that engineers and collaborators need,” he says. “Now, I feel like I’ve learned a new language in drawing.”

Dream Projects & Future Aspirations

When asked about his dream project, Barmey doesn’t hesitate: “If I had my own house, I’d design a storage room with a skylight and a big worktable in the middle—for all my trinkets.”

Beyond personal projects, his goal for the remainder of his internship is simple but meaningful: “I want to see a project I’ve worked on move forward. Even if it’s just a pole in the ground, I want to be able to point at something and say, ‘I was part of that.’”

Beyond Architecture

Outside of design, Barmey enjoys volleyball, having recently transitioned from tennis.

Welcome to the team, Barmey!