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Walk by any construction site and there will be women working in a variety of roles, from laborers to superintendents to project managers and executives.

It’s a growing trend in the industry to see women taking part in significant roles on major construction projects across the country. Today women account for more than 9.1 percent of the construction workforce.

The annual National Women in Construction Week (WIC), was recognized the week of March 1-7, a week which raises awareness of the opportunities available for women in the industry and emphasizes the growing role they play.

Taylor Knott, assistant superintendent of Skanska and her all woman construction management team are working on the Longwood University Tennis Courts project in Farmville.

This powerhouse group is among the 31 percent of women in the construction industry with a professional management role. Kim Bass, of Longwood University, is the site’s deputy director of design and construction, Becky Olsen, also from Skanska, serves as the project manager, and Taylor is the sole superintendent on site.

“Being on an all-women team is very empowering and unique, especially in construction,” Knott said. “Although it is not always easy, I love my job and the people I work with, which makes me even more excited to be making strides for women in construction so early in my career.”

Joining Skanska upon graduation in 2018, Taylor is new to the field, but has not fallen short of moving up the ranks. Serving as the sole superintendent on the Longwood project, she has seen her current project go from a gravel/ asphalt parking lot, to a two-level court complex with six indoor courts and two parking lots.