2020 Women in Construction: Anja Gjata, Senior Preconstruction Engineer at Skanska USA Building

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? One of the segments Skanska operates in is the construction of life science facilities. In the past year I have been fortunate to be involved in such projects, working with exceptional clients and teams. What makes these projects unique is their construction complexity. These buildings are designed to be more airtight and insulated at higher levels, and yet use less energy. It takes an experienced, knowledgeable team to come up with suggestions and solutions to prevent any potential risks, and optimize the construction process at a very early phase. This is the team I have been working and learning from. 

What are you doing differently in 2020 that has had a positive impact on your career? I continue to remain curious. I have been amazed by all the opportunities that this industry has to offer in various segments, especially here at Skanska which is one of the leading companies in the construction industry. This year my personal goal has not only been to work harder, but to work smarter and get involved in projects that will give me that extra knowledge required to get to the next step. Luckily every project is different, and my learning is constantly developing.

What trends are you seeing in your field this year? In recent years we’ve seen a major increase in new technology trends in the construction industry.  Jobsites are using drones for supervisory tasks and inspections, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is being used to plan, design, and manage construction more efficiently, and virtual reality (VR) is narrowing down the communication gap between developers, designers and contractors by demonstrating what projects will look like once completed. We are now looking at artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and how they can be used onsite to perform daily tasks. The list goes on. It is undoubtedly an exciting time to work in the industry. 

Who or what inspired you to join the construction industry? I studied Civil and Environmental Engineering in college. I have always been drawn to mathematics and physics, and I also enjoy painting. The construction industry is where science and creativity intertwine. I get a strong feeling of pride when I walk by buildings that my team and I have worked on. What might look like a cool building on a busy street somewhere in Boston is really an intricate and thoughtfully solved puzzle that the team brought to life. Being part of that process in the early design phase brings meaning and purpose to the work I do.

When I’m not working I am…Working on myself. Having an active mind and body are crucial for a good performance. Everyday at work we exercise our brains to be efficient in primarily one way. I therefore also like to stimulate my mind by reading and listening to podcasts - one of my favorites is “How I Built This” by Guy Raz, and I just finished the book “Make Your Bed” by William McRaven. I also enjoy my daily workouts and long walks. I strongly believe that an active lifestyle, whether that means going to the gym or taking a hike in nature, has a powerful impact on mental health.