Women comprised just 9.1% of the US construction workforce last year, but that figure rises to nearly 100% of the construction and commercial leadership team delivering Skanska’s first commercial office development in Los Angeles, California, which has now broken ground.
From acquisition to engineering to leasing, the 9000 Wilshire project team consists of women from a range of disciplines. Recently, four of the six women found time in their busy schedules to get together on site for a photograph (above) for GCR.
It brings to the conversation the knowledge and experience of the other 50% of the population. And if you think of it that way, our industry has only been performing at half speed– Jenny Walker, senior construction project manager
They are, from left, Rocky Binswanger, lead leasing broker with CBRE; Clare De Briere, executive vice president for commercial development at Skanska in Los Angeles; Jenny Walker, senior construction project manager at Skanska USA Building; and Lauren Acosta, Skanksa’s LA commercial development manager.
Skanska’s first commercial property scheme in Los Angeles, 9000 Wilshire is a four-storey, 46,000-sq-ft office building featuring an 11,000-sq-ft indoor/outdoor deck and lounge space on the top storey.
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The other half of the population
"Being a part of a team that is comprised majority women, in our case we are six of a team of eight, definitely provides a sense of pride and the opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities to build and manage a successful project," Jenny Walker told GCR.
"In any industry, women bring unique perspectives and insights and in construction, which is predominately male, it brings to the conversation the knowledge and experience of the other 50% of the population. And if you think of it that way, our industry has only been performing at half speed.
9000 Wilshire is Skanska’s first commercial property scheme in Los Angeles (Skanska)
"It’s definitely a privilege to represent Skanska in their initiatives in advancing diversity and inclusion in our industry and I look forward to a time when this is business as usual and we don’t have to emphasise the fact it’s a male or female on a construction project."
Clare De Briere said: "Skanska has always prioritised diversity and inclusion, working hard to ensure that those policies are put into practice on all of our projects. This team was a natural outcome of those efforts, and I’m proud to be a part of such a strong group of women.
"I have long believed that a diverse array of voices produces the most innovative ideas, and Skanska’s projects continue to prove that across the board. That 9000 Wilshire is led by an all-women team is important for both young women and young men to see as they start out in this industry."
Top image: From left, Rocky Binswanger, Clare De Briere, Jenny Walker and Lauren Acosta (Photograph courtesy of Skanska)
