2026 Women in Construction: Katarina Edlund, Elkus Manfredi Architects

What current or recently completed project, accomplishment or initiative are you most excited about, and why does it matter for your team, clients or community? I had the opportunity to work from start to finish on Lyrik Back Bay, which opened in 2025 and spans the MassPike in downtown Boston. I began working on the project early in design and continued all the way through construction administration. The project is built on air rights over the MassPike and MBTA, so it was extremely complex with multiple structural, permitting, and urban design challenges. It was an exciting design and civic opportunity that has enormous significance for Boston. Speaking personally, it’s incredibly rewarding to see Lyrik bring life back to that part of the city.

What emerging challenge or opportunity do you see shaping the construction industry in the next few years, and how are you preparing for it? There is an increasingly urgent need to address climate change, which also presents exciting new opportunities. I am Passive House-certified and working on a multifamily Passive House project now at Tufts University that will be completed in the fall of 2027. As designers and builders, we need to constantly raise the bar by creating more and more sustainable projects that incorporate lifecycle analysis and long-term savings to our clients. At the same time, construction costs are going up. Balancing those factors is a big challenge but offers really important possibilities.

What is something outside of work that brings you energy, balance or creativity? Born and raised in Sweden, I like being outside, breathing fresh air. I bike to work when I can, and ski in the winter.