Women in Construction Week began March 2. The goal? To honor those women who are making an impact in the commercial and residential construction industries.
In honor of the contributions that women have made in the world of construction, here are short profiles of four who are making a difference at Chicago-based construction firm Leopardo.
Ali Borrelli, Senior VDC Manager
What is a VDC Manager?
As a VDC manager I coordinate with designers, owners, facility managers, engineers, subcontractors and our internal field and office teams to build a building virtually first. This creates a more efficient, safe and productive project reducing the rework and waste that can occur without sufficient planning.
Using Revit, Trimble, Leica, Navis and many more tools and software programs helps us model future elements and review against existing to have the most accurate preparation to start building in the field.
How do you contribute to the overall success of the project?
Lots of collaboration. The more people we have coordinating issues or roadblocks that we face within the day-to-day construction challenges is the best way to ensure success. My piece of that puzzle is trying to bring all the solutions to the table from multiple entities involved and coming up with the best path moving forward for the project.
The earlier we can get involved in projects and review the potential issues prior to the final set of drawings hitting the field, the greater opportunity we have to come up with better resolutions.
What is a project you were proud to be a part of?
I’d have to say Ravenswood Senior Living. I am involved in nearly all of our adaptive reuse projects but this one was especially unique due to its scale. It was a 10-story (about 225,000 square feet) renovation of an old healthcare facility into an affordable housing community for seniors. I scoped and coordinated close to $14 million of building systems.
A lot of the coordination effort was timed to succeed demolition and laser scanning activities. This allowed the team to take advantage of the limited amount of space.
What advice would you offer to someone interested in a career in construction?
Get into the field as much as possible. There is a wealth of knowledge out there and incredible insight on how to build and problem solve. Working in the field and in a team that wants the project to succeed helps your career in construction grow exponentially.
Antoinette Adams, Project Engineer
What advice would you offer to someone interested in a career in construction?
Do not be shy about asking questions. It is how you learn. As a project engineer, I often work with our subcontractors who are more advanced in their careers. Take advantage of these encounters to learn from highly skilled tradespeople. They are a wealth of knowledge and by showing you value their expertise, you can build a stronger relationship and they will respect you for it.
What is something that surprised you about construction?
Every building has a story. We work a lot in older buildings renovating them for new uses and tenants. One of the manufacturing projects I was a part of was originally developed as a build-to-suit for Sony Corporation. It is now a flagship facility for a global manufacturer of packaging and warehouse automation solutions. It’s fun to see how a building evolves over the years but also still remains.
What is a recent project you were proud to be a part of?
I recently was a part of the project team that completed Downers Grove Civic Center, an 80,900-square-foot new two-story combined village hall and police station. It was so rewarding to see it from start to finish. I was there when we were excavating the site to accommodate the basement level firing range all the way through to opening day when the mayor and other village dignitaries cut the ribbon. I will feel pride each time I take the Metra and see it from the window!
How are you paying it forward?
I intend to build up others’ voices as I progress in my career. I like to give back as well – applying the skills I’ve learned on the jobsite. This will be my third year participating in Habitat for Humanity Women Build. It’s such a great event that brings together inspiring women for a day of volunteer work.
Camille Trausch, Senior Project Manager
How does a project manager contribute to the team’s success?
We manage all the details from start to finish, with all parties involved, making sure everyone comes together – coordinating with clients, the design team, subcontractors and other stakeholders. We also work with the superintendent on the schedule and oversee the budget
What is a recent project you were proud to be a part of?
I oversaw Leopardo’s renovation of Bartlett Fire Protection District Station No. 1. I’m really proud of the work we did, which earned a Firehouse Magazine Station Design Gold Award. 845 Design Group – a WBE – was our architect partner and together we were able to successfully transform the fire station into a modern facility with a state-of-the-art admin center.
Why was this project so challenging?
We were combining three generations of buildings, so that involves tying in a lot of different materials, construction styles and systems. The façade update was the most logistically challenging component. It had a lot of important details we needed to get right.
We also needed to take extra care not to damage existing equipment – like the district’s emergency response infrastructure – during renovation. Firehouses are second homes to the firefighters. We wanted to make sure they are happy with the finished product for years to come.
What advice would you offer to someone interested in a career in construction?
Practice active listening. You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room. Listening is just as powerful a skill as speaking. By listening with intention, you can better understand where everyone is coming from and find a solution that’s a win-win for all parties. Project management is just as much about people management as it is about construction.
Vicky Stropus | Project Manager
What is your education background?
I have a dual master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign– a Master of Architecture and a Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Construction Management as well as a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies also from U of I.
I would say that while my education has certainly helped advance my career, I have learned just as much on jobsites. Construction involves a lot of different parties – clients, owners, developers, end users, subcontractors, suppliers and sometimes concerned citizens! By spending time in the field with different parties I learned how to navigate different personalities, prioritize goals and get things done!.
You’ve been at Leopardo for a few years now, how has that experience been?
One of the exciting things about Leopardo is our market diversity. I’ve had the opportunity to work in a lot of different verticals and get a taste for the different types of work we do. I have been on a large capital improvement project for a senior living facility, a significant renovation in a Class A, LEED Gold-certified tower in downtown Chicago, as well as a new lab build that included 20 acres of greenfield sitework. I think I’ve found my sweet spot in municipal work but only time will tell!
What is a recent project you were proud to be a part of?
I had the opportunity to work on Downers Grove Civic Center. This was a long project with complicated logistics. Not only were we building the new structure next to an active police headquarters, but the site was also adjacent to the Metra BNSF rail line. It required a lot of coordination and daily communication with all parties involved.
What’s next for you?
After successfully completing DGCC, I was promoted to Project Manager. I’m looking forward to running my own work alongside a seasoned team and continuing to challenge myself. Every project is unique – you have different sites, specs, schedules…everything is new and it really keeps me engaged in the work.
