The BJCC spotlights talented women in construction working on Protective Stadium

Did you know March 7-13 is Women in Construction week? Here’s a look at the talented women in construction who are aiding in the progress of the Protective Stadium project at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center (BJCC).

What’s Women in Construction week all about?

According to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Women in Construction week does two important things:

1. Highlights women as a viable component of the construction industry.
2. Raises awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and emphasizes the growing role of women in the industry. 

The Protective Stadium project

If you aren’t in the loop on the Protective Stadium project, here are some fast facts:

• It’s a 45,000-capacity multi-use, open-air stadium.
• It’s funded by the BJCC Authority, the City of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Protective Life Corporation and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
• It will spur continued growth for the city while positioning Birmingham to attract and host large concerts along with a variety of sporting events. 
• It’s the future home of UAB Blazer Football. 

“Across the projects underway at the BJCC right now, including the construction of Protective Stadium and the renovation and expansion of Legacy Arena, our collective team has some of the greatest talent in the industry, many of whom are women.

It has been inspiring to see more and more women in the industry within the design professions and in the various trades. The biggest change I have seen in the past few years is the increase of women in hardhats actually performing a wide variety of trades. It is great to be a part of projects that open up opportunities for these women that are breaking barriers one day at a time.” 

Shelia Montgomery-Mills, Sr. Project Manager of Design & Construction, BJCC

Learn more about the Protective Stadium project:

Here’s a sneak peak at the Protective Stadium design
We’ve got the sneak preview of Birmingham’s new Protective Stadium site (Photos)
The final steel beam at the Protective Stadium is now in place—check it out

Now, onto those talented females…

Brasfield & Gorrie

Brasfied & Gorrie serves as the general contractor on Protective Stadium’s construction. Much of the company’s team includes women of all ages and stages of their careers. They’re showing off their skills while working on the Protective Stadium project.

“It’s empowering to look around and see so many women in every aspect of this project,” said Brasfield & Gorrie Project Manager Virnetta Woodbury, who is a NAWIC Greater Birmingham board member and past president. As a project manager, Woodbury contributes to the project’s planning and management and coordinates with trade contractors. “Having that kind of representation throughout so many skill sets is rare, but we’re seeing that more and more.” 

Virnetta Woodbury, Project Manager, Brasfield & Gorrie

Macknally Land Design

Macknally Land Design is a Birmingham-based, female-owned landscape architecture firm. The company coordinated the landscape design and hardscape design for Protective Stadium.

Other Macknally Land Design projects include Regions Field, Mercedes US corporate headquarters, Railroad Park, and Alabama National Cemetery. 

“There is a wealth of talent to draw on in these industries, in our region. It’s a point of pride to be on a team along with incredibly talented women who’ve established reputations at the tops of their fields. We’ve worked together, but most of us have served together on boards and committees, many of those dedicated to instilling values in the future professionals of our field.” 

Lea Ann Macknally, president, Macknally Land Design

Studio 2H Design:

Studio 2H Design is a Birmingham-based minority and female-owned business. It’s responsible for designing Protective Stadium’s concourse-level low rise buildings. Some of the company’s women working on the stadium include:

• Nolanda Hatcher – Principal-in-Charge

• Angela Nash – Project Architect

• Kayla Bailey – Project Coordinator

“Studio 2H Design is proud to have a very skilled and diverse group of designers. Our female-led Protective Stadium team is happy to use our talents and education to have a positive impact on our home city as it continues to grow.

Allowing each of our team members to have meaningful responsibility gives us all a sense of pride and ownership in our work. We are grateful for this opportunity and excited to continue contributing to such important community assets.”

Nolanda Hatcher, owner and architect, Studio 2H Design

Walter P Moore

Shruti Sharma – Structural engineering Project Manager

Though Walter P Moore is located in Atlanta, Georgia, Shruti Sharma has led all aspects of structural engineering for the Protective Stadium project in Birmingham, including:

• Conceptualizing the design solution
• Comparative analysis of structural systems
• Pricing the schematic design options
• Modeling of the structure
• Outlining staged construction analysis
• Collaborating with Populous architects to showcase visually exposed steel in celebration of Birmingham’s history in the iron industry
• Coordinating with BJCC and other disciplines

Want to learn about even more women in Birmingham who are leading the way in the field of construction? Here are three from Doster Construction.

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