Construction World September 2019

MARKETPLACE

A s part of Co-Arc International Architects’ predominantly female- led team, Director Catharine Atkins and professional architect Malika Walele are familiar faces on the multibillion-rand construction site. Atkins heads Co-Arc’s team on the project, responsible as Principal Co-ordinator for all engineering and architectural disciplines. She oversees the entire construction documentation team. She is supported by Walele, Salome Daley, Janel Venter, Megan Holman, Angela Barnard, Keitsitse Losaba, Antonella Giuricich, Rachel Zwane and Mitchell Gibbon. The building itself was penned by Co-Arc’s Emeritus Partner, Francois Pienaar, but when it came to selecting the best team to execute the technical detailing, Co-Arc set up a highly skilled team on merit. The fact that women made up the majority of this team went unnoticed in the studio until a photo of the team was taken on site, quite late in the project. Atkins credits the conducive working environment at Co-Arc for creating a level playing field for all employees. While Walele has been on site each day, operating as the vital link between the construction outfits and the Co-Arc brainstrust, each woman on the team has contributed her technical and professional skills to the mixed-use project. Ultimately, The Leonardo will boast luxury residential apartments and penthouses, office and shopping space, restaurants and lifestyle recreation areas, and fundamentally alter the skyline of the city. But, unlike their male counterparts on similar projects, these female Architects face trials over and above those related to the dynamic world of construction; their gender remains a daily challenge. The South African Institute of Architects in the Eastern Cape calculates that just 21% of South Africa’s registered Architectural

Professionals are women, compared with about 31% in Europe (2010: Architect’s Council of Europe) and 20% in the United States (2004: AIA National Associates Committee Report). These relatively low numbers ensure that those already in the field battle to make themselves heard. Atkins, a founding partner of Co-Arc in 2005 with 23 years of experience under her belt, says Co-Arc is well aware of the issues facing young women at the coalface of the profession and, together with her partners, she has actively sought to promote the careers of outstanding women. Co-Arc knows full well that site work is essential for career advancement; and yet young female architects battle harassment when dealing with construction teams. For the past two-and-a-half years, Walele (27) has worked at The Leonardo, one of the biggest construction sites in Africa. She deals with some 2 000 men and a minority of women, almost all of whom do not operate at management level. Despite the support of on-site management, on occasion she’s had to stare down groups of men making inappropriate comments, turn down unwanted advances and shrug off sexism. “I’ve had to find mechanisms to deal with it, by saying something or even just ignoring it,” says Walele. “It can get to you and affect your work at times if you don’t deal with it. Being assertive and dealing with these incidents is crucial for women, as this behaviour is typical of all construction sites all around the world.” Despite the challenges, neither woman would give up the opportunity for the career-advancing experience one gains on a major project like The Leonardo. “I love being on site, and the growth trajectory is huge; so much more than being in an office,” says Walele. “I’d encourage any woman

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD SEPTEMBER 2019