What is the root of a woman's independence? A new book is exploring the concept against the backdrop of one woman's role in a historic engineering project.
In Pipe Dream: An Alaskan Adventure, Deborah Brownlow brings readers along on a modern day "gold rush" as she provides an insightful and often humorous look into her role in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System construction project in the 1970s. Not content with living a comfortable life in suburban Michigan, Brownlow recounts her quest for unknown horizons, unimagined experiences and her journey to find herself among a world of men.
"My book and I are one in the same," says Brownlow. "I have been given many opportunities to travel in my life, and fortunately have been able to fulfill my dreams of living the life of an explorer or pioneer."
Touching on discrimination issues and the rise of empowered women seeking equal pay, the book explores Alaska as the last frontier and overall humanity. Brownlow revisits her part in forging a path through unchartered land, in reference to both the geographic climate and her own work climate dominated by men.
Additionally, Pipe Dream provides insight into the challenging engineering project, complicated by extreme cold and isolated terrain.
"It was always my dream to become a part of history," says Brownlow. "In working on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline project, I found my opportunity to do so. Now, my strength lies in my sense of independence. I know I have the ability to accomplish anything thrown my direction, and I want to be a source of encouragement for other women."
For more information, visit www.dbbrownlow.net. BD+C
Related Stories
| May 1, 2013
New AISC competition aims to shape the future of steel
Do you have the next great idea for a groundbreaking technology, model shop or building that could potentially revolutionize the future of the steel design and construction industry? Enter AISC's first-ever Future of Steel competition.
| May 1, 2013
Data center construction remains healthy, but oversupply a concern
Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are among the major tech companies investing heavily to build state-of-the-art data centers.
| May 1, 2013
Groups urge Congress: Keep energy conservation requirements for government buildings
More than 350 companies urge rejection of special interest efforts to gut key parts of Energy Independence and Security Act
| May 1, 2013
World’s tallest children’s hospital pushes BIM to the extreme
The Building Team for the 23-story Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago implements an integrated BIM/VDC workflow to execute a complex vertical program.
| Apr 30, 2013
Healthcare lighting innovation: Overhead fixture uses UV to kill airborne pathogens
Designed specifically for hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, and other healthcare facilities where infection control is a concern, the Arcalux Health Risk Management System (HRMS) is an energy-efficient lighting fixture that doubles as a germ-killing machine.
| Apr 30, 2013
First look: North America's tallest wooden building
The Wood Innovation Design Center (WIDC), Prince George, British Columbia, will exhibit wood as a sustainable building material widely availablearound the globe, and aims to improve the local lumber economy while standing as a testament to new construction possibilities.
| Apr 26, 2013
Apple scales back Campus 2 plans to reduce price tag
Apple will delay the construction of a secondary research and development building on its "spaceship" campus in an attempt to drive down the cost of developing its new headquarters.
| Apr 26, 2013
Documentary shows 'starchitects' competing for museum project
"The Competition," a new documentary produced by Angel Borrego Cuberto of Madrid, focuses on the efforts of five 'starchitects' to capture the design contract for the new National Museum of Art of Andorra: a small country in the Pyrenees between Spain and France.
| Apr 26, 2013
Solving the parking dilemma in U.S. cities
ArchDaily's Rory Stott yesterday posted an interesting exploration of progressive parking strategies being employed by cities and designers. The lack of curbside and lot parking exacerbates traffic congestion, discourages visitors, and leads to increased vehicles emissions.
| Apr 26, 2013
Decaying city: Exhibit demonstrates the fragility of the man-made world
Theater set designer Johanna Mårtensson built a model cityscape out of bread only to watch it decay.