flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Building independence: New take on female power

Building independence: New take on female power

Memoir explores historic engineering project, women's empowerment era.


By By BD+C Staff | January 12, 2012
In Pipe Dream: An Alaskan Adventure, Deborah Brownlow brings readers along on a modern day "gold rush" as she provides an insigh

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

Building Team | Oct 12, 2022

Real estate development practices worsened impact of Hurricane Ian

A century ago, the southwest Florida coast was mostly swamps and shoals, prone to frequent flooding and almost impossible to navigate by boat.

Market Data | Oct 12, 2022

ABC: Construction Input Prices Inched Down in September; Up 41% Since February 2020

Construction input prices dipped 0.1% in September compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today.

Hotel Facilities | Oct 12, 2022

Global hotel chain citizenM opens its first Chicago property and its fifth of the year

citizenM, a global chain of affordable luxury hotels, has opened its first Chicago property—its fifth opening of 2022.

Building Team | Oct 11, 2022

Associated Materials® Celebrates the Company’s Rich History, Which Began 75 Years Ago with the Founding of Alside

Since its inception in 1947, Alside® has been a leader in innovation and continues this very commitment to excellence – in people, products and services.

Standards | Oct 11, 2022

Peter Templeton named new USGBC and GBCI president and CEO

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) appointed Peter Templeton as president and CEO.

Legislation | Oct 10, 2022

Chicago’s updated building energy code provides incentives for smart HVAC, water appliances

The Chicago City Council recently passed the 2022 Chicago Energy Transformation Code that is intended to align with the city’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 62% from 2017 levels by 2040.

Contractors | Oct 7, 2022

Nonresidential construction spending down 0.4% in August, says ABC

National nonresidential construction spending was down 0.4% in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Multifamily Housing | Oct 7, 2022

Design for new Ft. Lauderdale mixed-use tower features sequence of stepped rounded volumes

The newly revealed design for 633 SE 3rd Ave., a 47-story, mixed-use tower in Ft. Lauderdale, features a sequence of stepped rounded volumes that ease the massing of the tower as it rises.

Giants 400 | Oct 6, 2022

Top 100 Medical Office Building Architecture + AE Firms for 2022

CannonDesign, Perkins Eastman, HGA, and E4H Environments for Health Architecture top the ranking of the nation's largest medical office building (MOB) architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report. 

Giants 400 | Oct 6, 2022

Top 100 Outpatient Facility Architecture + AE Firms for 2022

Perkins and Will, HDR, CannonDesign, and Massa Multimedia Architecture top the ranking of the nation's largest outpatient facility architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report. 

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Construction Costs

Data center construction costs for 2024

Gordian’s data features more than 100 building models, including computer data centers. These localized models allow architects, engineers, and other preconstruction professionals to quickly and accurately create conceptual estimates for future builds. This table shows a five-year view of costs per square foot for one-story computer data centers. 


Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.



Healthcare Facilities

Watch on-demand: Key Trends in the Healthcare Facilities Market for 2024-2025

Join the Building Design+Construction editorial team for this on-demand webinar on key trends, innovations, and opportunities in the $65 billion U.S. healthcare buildings market. A panel of healthcare design and construction experts present their latest projects, trends, innovations, opportunities, and data/research on key healthcare facilities sub-sectors. A 2024-2025 U.S. healthcare facilities market outlook is also presented.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021