2021 Women in Construction: Meaghan Lewis, Project Superintendent, Shawmut Design and Construction

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What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? After completing Rhode Island School of Design’s new $25M North Hall—the first cross-laminated timber (CLT)-steel hybrid residence hall in New England—I moved on to the second phase of the project, renovations to Nickerson Hall. The existing dormitory is a 4-story structure located on a sloping site. This gut renovation focuses on the reconfiguration of interior spaces, and replacement of mechanical systems, interior finishes, and exterior walls. The renovated building will consist of 64 dorm rooms, and new unistrut system, elevator, store front, and curtain wall. I then moved on to Brown University where I supported the renovation to the Men’s and Woman’s basketball locker rooms and offices. Both jobs were delivered on time and on budget! Finally, to end the year, I am assisting on our project at Brown University’s new wellness center and residence hall.

How have you adapted and changed in the last 12 months? The past year has certainly had its challenges in the field amid Covid-19. Personally, being pregnant during the pandemic in the field brought its own set of challenges. I was able to grow in so many different aspects of my life—inside and outside of work. I was able to become even more accepting of the consistent changes in the field while staying flexible. Continuously working on keeping the moral up and developing new strategies to maintain a positive and safe environment. These challenges only furthered my development and respect for the industry.