Architizer Blog ? Awesome Woman Alert: Ana Bertuna

Ana Bertuna, AIA, is vice president of design and construction for the New York-based real estate giant, Related Companies. She works on both commercial and residential projects and was heavily involved in making Time Warner Center a reality. Prior to joining Related, she logged 11 years at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Read more.

Bertuna contributes her time to various organizations, including the ACE Mentor Program, which helps high school students prepare for careers in design and construction. She also sits on the scholarship committee for WX, which aims to promote the advancement of women in the commercial real estate industry.

We recently caught up with Bertuna after hearing her speak at ?A View From the Future,? a June event hosted by the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation. This interview is part of an ongoing series about powerful women in the architecture, design, and development communities. (Want to nominate a candidate? Write to: editorial@architizer.com.)

By way of introduction, please tell us about one current project you?re most excited about.

I am currently working on Hudson Yards [master-planned by KPF].?I was involved in Hudson Yards from the RFP stages, and I?m thrilled to experience the design-and-construction methodology evolution of this project. I am heading up the construction of Tower C, which will be the first tower under construction; it?s expected to break ground this fall.

Although situated on terra firma, the logistics of the building are quite challenging. The project is landlocked on three sides: to the south is the High Line; to the north is the LIRR Maintenance of Operations facility; and to the east is the DEP easement. There continues to be numerous coordination meetings with the various city agencies in order to make all the projects successfully be completed within schedule. The collaboration and cooperation of all those involved in Hudson Yards is definitely part of the excitement.

Rendering of Hudson Yards

We?d love to hear a bit about how you got where you are today. Was it all part of a grand plan, or did chance play a role? Did you have a mentor that guided your professional growth?

I worked at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for 11 years. I left to join Related during the Time Warner Center project [designed by SOM?s David Childs and completed in 2003].

As an associate at SOM, I strived to unite the conceptual design and technical feasibility of various projects. I continue to hold this same standard at Related. Translating a vision into a reality that has to be built within a budget and schedule is my main focus.

I?m fortunate to have had a number of great mentors along the way. They helped pave the road for me and supported me along the way. I had strong technical mentors at SOM and have equally passionate and dedicated mentors at Related.

I will always have a mentor to guide me in my professional growth. In turn, I give back by mentoring those who wish to follow this path.

The construction industry has been historically male-dominated. In your mind, is gender still an issue in the profession, or have we broken through the ?glass ceiling??

I believe we are starting to see some cracks in the glass ceiling, but we have not yet broken through. The construction industry is still male-dominated, but there are many women in the industry who I look up to and admire.

As a member of WX, I am in contact with women in all facets of the real estate and construction industry. Our mission is to open the field to the young women of the future. My dream is to run a project with a women-dominated team. At that point, I will say we broke through the glass ceiling.

Your work directly affects cities?including, often, New York. Let?s say you were given the chance to change one thing about the city?s zoning laws and/or urban policies. What would it be?

More green. I recently moved to Manhattan and am a proud member of the Chelsea community. Chelsea is not just a destination on the map but a neighborhood with a strong feeling of community, which is difficult to achieve in New York City.

Projects like Hudson River Park and The High Line are urban open spaces that bring people together. We need more open green space in the cities. It eases the tall buildings into a human scale and allows us to be part of a microclimate. I believe this is what will also make Hudson Yards a successful neighborhood.

Rendering of Coach South Tower, Hudson Yards

Many of our readers are recently graduated designers, engineers, and planners. Do you have any advice for them?

When I began my career in architecture, I had no idea I would be where I am now. Follow your passion and your instincts. Sometimes the choices that don?t necessarily make sense but feel right may be the best choices you?ll make in your career.

Never ever give up on your dream. If you are told something can?t be done, don?t give up; just keep searching. It takes all different types of designers, engineers, and planners to make a project successful. The input of every person is equally important.

Find time to give back and help pave the road for the future generation.

All photos courtesy of Related Companies.

RELATED LINKS

Awesome Woman Alert: MaryAnne Gilmartin

Source: http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/48049/awesome-woman-alert-ana-bertuna/

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