2022 Women in Construction: Crystal Lin, LERA Consulting Structural Engineers

Name: Crystal Lin

Title: Associate

Company Name: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months?
The 10-story, 230,000 s/f new NYC Public Health Laboratory project was unveiled last year. Lucky enough, I’ve been involved in the entire design phase at LERA from the very start as a project manager. Knowing that the new building will be a hub for studying and testing various public health diseases, I’m very proud that I’m able to use my professional skills to contribute to the community, especially during the pandemic.

Why should women consider a career in construction?
I mean, why not. When I was at Georgia Tech, I heard there was no women's bathroom in the civil engineering building back in 1970s. Things have changed now—women in construction are no longer uncommon scenes today. In addition, there are plenty of jobs in the construction sector, whether you are a site manager, an architect/engineer, or an estimator, women can often bring new insights to projects.

Starting out in the construction business, who or what empowered you?
My initial motivation to start my career in civil engineering was a TV show about home makeovers in China, which has become my all-time favorite. In each episode, an architect together with a few engineers would help a family to renovate their home. Many people who live in big cities in China don’t have good living conditions (just like NYC), even though the locations are great. When I see their happy faces after the living space gets transformed into a comfy and healthy home, I become more determined in using my knowledge to help more people improving their living conditions.

Who within your own firm has helped you succeed within the construction industry?
I moved from Atlanta to NYC to join LERA three years ago. My project director brought me on the Public Health Lab project, helped me familiarize with local regulations, and guided me on various technicalities. Even during busy work, he is a big advocate for work-life balance. A good control in my work and personal time makes me more productive and passionate at work.

What advice would you offer to other women getting into the construction industry?
Be open minded. We are in the digital age, unlike handmade sheets, almost everything requires computer skills. Even though construction is a traditional industry, we have been gradually incorporating new technologies into our day-to-day work. I believe computer skills are essential to make one’s work more productive and efficient.