Meet Julia from the SAFE Space Construction Team!

Julia Bausano is one of two female engineers on the SAFE Space construction team. She works for Consigli—the general contractors on our new crisis shelter. We first met Julia during the formal groundbreaking ceremony and immediately wanted to get to know her better. We chatted with her last week to learn about her experience working on a construction site as a woman and how she came to be in her role.

DC SAFE: What is your name/pronouns/job title/role on the SAFE Space Project? And can you tell us two fun facts about yourself?

Julia: I’m Julia Bausano (she/her) and I’m a Field Operations Intern on the SAFE Space Project. I’m a rising senior at Cornell University studying civil engineering, and I have a puppy named Bodie.

What sparked your interest in engineering/construction? Was there a particular moment that you realized this was the career path for you?

I always knew I liked to solve problems and work with people. With the guidance of some very special teachers, I decided to give engineering a try and I’ve been happy since.

What is it like to be a woman in your field? Do you feel that your gender gives you a different perspective and experience from your male counterparts? Any advantages? Any misconceptions?

There are misconceptions and stereotypes in construction, mainly surrounding scope of work. I’m working in the field, which means I assist in running the jobsite and directly managing foremen. There aren’t many female superintendents anywhere in that position, and the automatic assumption is that I’m visiting. It sometimes takes people a minute to realize I’m checking materials, correcting safety violations, and verifying the quality of their work.

That being said, I have a great team that understands the importance of gender diversity. We work with many different types of people from all backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs. Having women on site helps us to connect with more people and to create a stronger leadership unit. The team recognizes this crucial advantage and is incredibly supportive of women in the field.

What advice do you have for women interested in your field? For women in general?

My advice to women interested in construction is to prepare yourself, but know that you have allies. I’ve noticed as a young person in engineering that women are starting to take more space in the technology and design industries, but construction is still a male dominated field. My experience so far has shown me that I have an incredible team on the SAFE Space Project. Andrew, Lucas, Ferdinand, Sunil and Hannah all take the time to teach and actively include me because they understand the value that I bring. Make sure you find your team and surround yourself with people that support you.

What does it mean to you to be working on the SAFE Space Crisis Shelter project?

This project is one that I find incredibly important and meaningful. Constructing an apartment building is relatively similar between owners, and this project stands out to everyone on the team as something special.