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August 16, 2012
Women Kicking Ass: MaryAnne Gilmartin
Architizer
Not to be outdone by yesterday's Wall Street Journal and New York Times puff pieces on Bruce Ratner and Jay-Z, respectively, the Architizer Blog plays toady to Forest City Ratner's Maryanne Gilmartin.
By way of introduction, please tell us about one current project you’re most excited about.
Right now I am most excited about modular construction. We have been working for two years on developing this exciting modern means of construction, which we believe will allow us to build world-class residential high-rise buildings more efficiently and more effectively in the urban core, partnering with union labor.
My fascination with modular stems from the fact that it’s a massive innovation that will revolutionize high-rise construction. Like all “disruptive” technologies—think of GPS versus printed maps—it will bring about wholesale transformation and has the potential to transform how we build in NYC and throughout the U.S. Modular is a powerful proposition for all cities that struggle with developing middle and moderate income housing stock.
We’d love to hear a bit about how you got where you are today. Was it all part of a grand plan, or did chance play a role? Did you have a mentor that guided your professional growth?
I believe in serendipity, hard work and living with purpose. In the real estate industry, you are what you build.
...The construction industry has been historically male-dominated. In your mind, is gender still an issue in the profession, or have we broken through the “glass ceiling”?
This can be true, though in my case I have has a great mentor in Bruce Ratner, the CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies, who runs his shop as a meritocracy.
NoLandGrab: Meritocracy? New York's taxpayers might think it a kleptocracy.
Posted by eric at August 16, 2012 5:14 PM