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
Multifamily Housing | Aug 17, 2022
California strip mall goes multifamily residential
Tiny Tim Plaza started out as a gas station and a dozen or so stores. Now it’s a thriving mixed-use community, minus the gas station.
| Aug 10, 2022
Gresham Smith Founder, Batey M. Gresham Jr., passes at Age 88
It is with deep sadness that Gresham Smith announces the passing of Batey M. Gresham Jr., AIA—one of the firm’s founders.
Sponsored | | Aug 4, 2022
Brighter vistas: Next-gen tools drive sustainability toward net zero line
New technologies, innovations, and tools are opening doors for building teams interested in better and more socially responsible design.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 3, 2022
7 tips for designing fitness studios in multifamily housing developments
Cortland’s Karl Smith, aka “Dr Fitness,” offers advice on how to design and operate new and renovated gyms in apartment communities.
Building Materials | Aug 3, 2022
Shawmut CEO Les Hiscoe on coping with a shaky supply chain in construction
BD+C's John Caulfield interviews Les Hiscoe, CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction, about how his firm keeps projects on schedule and budget in the face of shortages, delays, and price volatility.
Green | Jul 26, 2022
Climate tech startup BlocPower looks to electrify, decarbonize the nation's buildings
The New York-based climate technology company electrifies and decarbonizes buildings—more than 1,200 of them so far.
Building Team | Jul 25, 2022
First Ismaili Center in the U.S. combines Islamic design with Texas influences
Construction has begun on the first Ismaili Center in the U.S. in Houston.
Building Team | Jul 20, 2022
San Francisco overtakes Tokyo as the world’s most expensive city for construction
San Francisco has overtaken Tokyo as the world’s most expensive city for construction, according to a new report from Turner & Townsend.
Libraries | Jul 20, 2022
Canada to open one of the world’s largest library and archive facilities
When it opens in 2026, Ādisōke is expected to be one of the largest library and archive facilities in the world.
Energy-Efficient Design | Jul 19, 2022
All is not lost: 3 ways architects can respond to the Supreme Court’s EPA ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants dealt a significant blow to our ability to fight the climate crisis with federal policy.
