The editors of Building Design+Construction magazine are teaming with nearly 30 leading women AEC professionals to launch the first annual Women in Design+Construction Conference (WiD+C), November 9-11, 2016, at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, Calif.
The inaugural event, themed “Building Together,” will bring together more than 125 women from multiple disciplines of the commercial construction market—architects, engineers, contractors, developers, owners, marketers, business development professionals—to address the difficult issues that women face in this fast-paced, competitive industry.
"Women in the AEC industry face similar issues and need an empowering environment to address, discuss, learn, and network," says Tony Mancini, Publisher of BD+C and Group Director and Principal of the SGC Horizon Building Group. "We listened to the feedback of our readers and partners, which is why we felt it was an ideal time to create an event for women by women."
‘Based on demographics, we are entering a war on talent the size of which we’ve never seen before. Companies that are able to tie into the untapped potential of women in the AEC industry will not only survive, but will thrive for years to come.’ —Ann Truair, an WiD+C Advisory Board member
The 2.5-day event will feature inspirational speakers and thought leaders, takeaway-focused educational seminars, multiple networking events, and team-based workshops, including a high-energy AEC Business Hackathon facilitated by leading “Hackathonist” Paul Doherty.
“Having this opportunity to learn from pivotal experiences of women in the AEC marketplace—in such a concentrated manner—is very rare and much needed,” says Krista Phillips, AIA, NCARB, Principal with RIM Architects, and one of 29 AEC women on the WiD+C Conference Advisory Board, which is working with the BD+C editorial team to plan the event.
The WiD+C Advisory Board includes leading women from a range AEC firms: Balfour Beatty, CannonDesign, DeSimone Consulting Engineers, Gould Evans, Granite Construction, Haley & Aldrich, KSQ Architects, Leo A Daly, Mortenson Construction, RSP Architects, and SmithGroupJJR to name a few.
“The inclusion of women in companies and leadership roles is not just about doing the right thing, it’s about smart business,” says Ann Truair, an WiD+C Advisory Board member, Marketing and Knowledge Management Leader with Granite Construction, and Co-founder of Above Glass Ceilings, a women’s leadership firm. “Based on demographics, we are entering a war on talent the size of which we’ve never seen before. Companies that are able to tie into the untapped potential of women in the AEC industry will not only survive, but will thrive for years to come.”
“We are extremely excited to be working with such a high-powered group of AEC women leaders to plan this event,” says David Barista, BD+C’s Editorial Director. “This conference is going to be something special.”
WiD+C Conference attendees are eligible to earn up to 10 AIA CES Learning Units or Professional Development Hours.
For more on the Women in Design+Construction Conference, visit the website or contact Erica Mileo, BD+C Events Manager, at emileo@sgcmail.com.
Related Stories
Mixed-Use | Apr 22, 2022
San Francisco replaces a waterfront parking lot with a new neighborhood
A parking lot on San Francisco’s waterfront is transforming into Mission Rock—a new neighborhood featuring rental units, offices, parks, open spaces, retail, and parking.
Legislation | Apr 21, 2022
NIMBYism in the Sunbelt stymies new apartment development
Population growth in Sunbelt metro areas is driving demand for new apartment development, but resistance is growing against these projects.
Building Team | Apr 20, 2022
White House works with state, local governments to bolster building performance standards
The former head of the U.S. Green Building Council says the Biden Administration’s formation of the National Building Performance Standards Coalition is a “tremendous” step in the right direction to raise building performance standards in the U.S.
Market Data | Apr 20, 2022
Pace of demand for design services rapidly accelerates
Demand for design services in March expanded sharply from February according to a new report today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Multifamily Housing | Apr 20, 2022
A Frankfurt tower gives residents greenery-framed views
In Frankfurt, Germany, the 27-floor EDEN tower boasts an exterior “living wall system”: 186,000 plants that cover about 20 percent of the building’s facade.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 19, 2022
6 trends to watch in healthcare design
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, IMEG’s healthcare leaders from across the country are seeing several emerging trends that are poised to have wide-ranging impacts on facility design and construction. Following are six of the trends and strategies they expect to become more commonplace in 2022 and the years to come.
Energy-Efficient Design | Apr 19, 2022
A prefab second skin can make old apartments net zero
A German startup is offering a new way for old buildings to potentially reach net-zero status: adding a prefabricated second skin.
Concrete Technology | Apr 19, 2022
SGH’s Applied Science & Research Center achieves ISO 17025 accreditation for concrete testing procedures
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s (SGH) Applied Science & Research Center recently received ISO/IEC17025 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) for several concrete testing methods.
Senior Living Design | Apr 19, 2022
Affordable housing for L.A. veterans and low-income seniors built on former parking lot site
The Howard and Irene Levine Senior Community, designed by KFA Architecture for Mercy Housing of California, provides badly needed housing for Los Angeles veterans and low-income seniors
Building Team | Apr 18, 2022
Shive-Hattery Acquires WSM Architects
Shive-Hattery announces that it has acquired WSM Architects, Inc., a 13-person architecture firm in Tucson, Arizona.