Female architect among sea of travelling tradesmen

Female architect among sea of travelling tradesmen

15 June 2016

THE construction industry remains largely a man’s world — that is obvious on commuter flights to London packed with the industry’s workers.

Boarding her own weekly flight, Dromara architect Gail Patterson is very aware of her minority status among the regular construction traffic.

But despite her rarity, and regardless of the extra challenges the first-time mum-to-be might face as a super-commuter in the months ahead, she is passionate about her role in London’s fast-paced construction scene.

A design manager for construction firm Gilbert Ash since January, Gail travels alongside 70 per cent of her company’s 177-strong workforce to jobs in Scotland, England and Wales.

Because of her own enjoyment of the lifestyle, she said she is unsure why so few female architects opt to work in construction.

“There is no particular reason for that these days. I have seen some female quantity surveyors on the road and another female design manager but it is certainly more male. That is the general construction trend,” she said.

“There are quite a few women who now study architecture but many out of the profession, perhaps because of the demands that can become more difficult once you have children.

“There may be a bit of stigma associated with construction being more male oriented but I certainly do not feel that.”

Gail, who is expecting her first baby, said she does not believe parenthood will make any difference to her chosen career and its associated travel.

“I am not concerned about having a baby. I know someone else in the role who has children and who is a role model. I think if she can do it, so can I,” she said.

“If you wanted to let having children hold you back it could, that is the same in any industry, but I certainly won’t be stopping what I do.”

Overseeing a project design, Gail provides a link between the design team and the client and the construction team on site.

She said her work is programme-driven and there are always deadlines to meet but that is what she loves. She said the travel also keeps every day interesting.

“I imagine over time, maybe over a period of years, commuting like that could become wearing, but I find it exciting,” she said.

“It breaks up the week being out and about meeting lots of different people and travelling. The company I work for does a certain size of project, which is why our work can be in England and that gives me the excitement of working on London projects.

“I am absolutely not alone. I always see the same people. There are colleagues on my flights, and you also begin to recognise the faces of people from the other construction companies.

“People are wearing their coats with the logos, so that makes them stand out.

“When you fly EasyJet you are flying almost exclusively with construction industry workers and that is quite nice.

“Of course it would be nice to have work at home in Northern Ireland, and there would be great pride in creating something at home, but for now we are all happy to go where the work is.”