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
| Dec 12, 2014
Dunkin’ Donuts launches certification for green restaurant buildings
The company aims to build 100 new DD Green-certified restaurants by the end of 2016.
| Dec 10, 2014
International Olympic Committee releases first images of new HQ in Switzerland
Designed by 3XN, the new headquarters is located within a park on the shores of Lake Geneva and adjacent to historic Château de Vidy, which has been the iconic home of the IOC.
| Dec 9, 2014
ABC economist predicts continued construction industry growth in 2015
In his latest report, ABC's Chief Economist Anirban Basu forecasts nonresidential construction spending to expand by roughly 7.5% next year, led by the power, lodging, office, and manufacturing sectors.
| Dec 8, 2014
Moshe Safdie wants to reinvent airports with Jewel Changi Airport addition
A new addition to Singapore's Changi Airport, designed by Moshe Safdie, will feature a waterfall and extensive indoor gardens.
| Dec 5, 2014
Plotting on the go: 3D-printed mechanical compass can print CAD drawings with high precision
Design student Ken Nakagaki has adapted a device to work with CAD software to replicate digital files on paper.
High-rise Construction | Dec 1, 2014
ThyssenKrupp develops world’s first rope-free elevator system
ThyssenKrupp's latest offering, named MULTI, will allow several cabins in the same shaft to move vertically and horizontally.
| Nov 26, 2014
USITT Selects Bahrain National Theatre for Honor Award
The Bahrain National Theatre will be recognized with an Honor Award by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) in 2015.
| Nov 25, 2014
Study: 85% of employees dissatisfied with their office environment
A vast majority of office workers feel open floor plans cause multiple distractions and that more private spaces are needed in today's offices, according to a new study by Steelcase and research firm IPSOS.
| Nov 21, 2014
Rental apartment construction soars to 27-year high: WSJ report
The multifamily sector is now outpacing the peak construction rate in the previous housing cycle, in 2006, according to the WSJ.
| Nov 21, 2014
NCARB: Number of architects in U.S. grows 1.6% in 2014, surpasses 107,500
The architecture profession continues to grow along with a gradually recovering economy, based on the results of the 2014 Survey of Architectural Registration Boards, conducted by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.