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This article is one of the series of conversations with women leaders in the construction industry. Click here for past discussions.
The engineering student of the University of Purdue, Shivani Pemaraj, developed an interest in the technologies and practices of the green building in high school. One of its largest inspirations is the Kenda building for an innovative sustainable design in Georgia Tech in Atlanta, the first project in the state of the certified construction building.
Thus, when the Georgia resident considered practices for this summer, he made sense to work for the builder of this project, contractor and developer of Sweden Skanska.
The practice of Pemaraj consisted of learning software for companies like Procore and Nexus and a Skanska proprietary system. He also managed the subcontractor documentation and Leed, performed weekly environmental inspections and worked on project billing processes.
Shivani Pemaraj
Permission granted by Shivani Pemaraj
Karate’s black belt said he hopes that one day he will work on a Challenge Living Building project. Here, Construction Dive talks to Pemaraj about his interest in sustainable design, the goals for the future and the parallels between his work under construction and his passion for karate.
This interview was published by brevity and clarity.
Construction Division: What led you to choose the construction for your career?
Shivani Pemaraj: I have always been interested in buildings and infrastructure, whether urban planning, the design process or the actual construction of a building. Growing, my family prioritized outdoor activities such as bicycle, campsite and hiking in national parks and local places.
Experimenting nature has led to such an interest in better understanding how environmental science and sustainability can help preserve and protect the environment. After learning about sustainable infrastructures, which was the perfect mix of my interests, I chose to pursue engineering at Purdue University in order to be able to work on significant projects that have impact on the real world.
What do you do in your practices?
I am currently working on a critical Mission project at Metro Atlanta. My responsibilities include obtaining documentation closely for the billing process, writing RFI and reviewing shipments, coordinating with subcontractors to solve problems and monitor data and documentation for LeED certifications, as well as the EC3 model (a free open source tool to estimate and reduce carbon embodied in construction materials).
What did you like most to work most?
I have found that meeting and learning a wide variety of people with various races and backgrounds is extremely rewarding. Working on Skanska has allowed me to train significant relationships with colleagues who work in both the field and the office, which has helped me to better understand all the different components and phases of a construction project.
Being in such a welcoming environment with diverse perspectives has made all aspects of the construction experience, from the early stages of pre -construction to the turnover of a project, incredibly enriching and valuable.
A particularly significant experience during my summer internship was to attend a customer meeting at the Lifcycle building center, where I came to witness the material circularity process in operation. Non -profit building materials based on Atlanta from demolition and construction waste, reform and make them available for reuse in new new construction projects.
Viewing this installation that plays an instrumental role in the reuse of materials and the sustainable construction process was an incredible opportunity.
In addition, I had the opportunity to travel the Kenda building. Seeing how to use materials from the life cycles construction center in the Kenda building, learn about mechanical systems that increase energy efficiency and see for me the objectives of designing architectural features.
Do you see some parallel between your karate study and your work in the construction industry?
Karate and construction are men dominated by men. It may be a bit bewildering to be the only girl in a room of 25 to 30 men, especially when you are young and new to something.
Growing, he was quite shy and introverted, so he often struggled to talk. However, working in situations that often stand out as a minority has forced me to be more assertive and have confidence in my capabilities.
What advice would you give to other young women considering construction as a career?
My advice would be to occupy space and pursue what you are interested in. Opportunities do not normally deliver you so you have to defend -you.
It may be scary to put on stages where you can be rejected, but you never know who will say yes until you ask. Always be curious about the people you work with, different types of projects and different careers, because this is the fastest way to learn and grow.
