Fiona O'Donnell.
Fiona O’Donnell, 32
Superintendent at Gilbane Building Company
Fiona O’Donnell’s 11-year career with Gilbane has taken her from an intern to superintendent and to three regions of the United States.
She started as an intern with the construction firm in 2011, then switched to full time the following year after graduating from Temple University, and began working out of the Philadelphia office, particularly on a hospital project in New Jersey.
O’Donnell then spent two and a half years in Gilbane’s Wisconsin offices, helping develop the Milwaukee Northwestern Mutual Campus Connection.
That generated about 2,600 construction jobs and serves as the headquarters for the financial institution. Curtain walls, roofing and fireproofing on the project were all in her wheelhouse.
In the New York-based high-rise division at Gilbane, she now oversees the buildout of the fourth-largest skyscraper in New York City, 50 Hudson Yards, which her firm is completing in partnership with Related Companies. She has been a lead superintendent since 2017.
“I’ve had my share of great mentors that shared their experience and knowledge through field roles, and that’s really shaped my experience with being a lead superintendent now running multiple trades on one of the biggest projects in Manhattan,” O’Donnell said.
She says she approaches her job via three things: over-
preparation, common sense and support for her team.
“Your result is only as good as your preparation and your team,” O’Donnell said. “So, without my trades, I cannot be successful. I try to connect with them as much as possible on both a personal and professional level. We talk daily; I make sure to remove any obstacle in their way.”
O’Donnell does not seem to be getting bored with the job anytime soon, and sees exciting opportunities on the horizon with artificial intelligence taking a bigger role in construction management. — M.H.
