From Blueprints to Buildings: Joanna Kripp’s Journey in Construction

Joanna Kripp began her construction career in 1982 with Gilbane Building Company. With now 40+ years of experience in the industry, she leads what is currently the largest healthcare construction project underway in the U.S., the Indiana University Health (IU Health) New Downtown Indianapolis Hospital. In honor of Women in Construction Week, Joanna was kind enough to share more with us about her journey and experiences.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in the construction industry?
A: There was no family background in construction. I went to school to be a civil engineer which led to a co-op [cooperative education] job at a structural engineering firm, where I met my husband of 41 years, which then led me to a co-op in construction, and then to a 41-year career with Gilbane.

During my first co-op, I worked in the designer’s office, and then in my following jobs, it was only office situations that they would let me go out on. During my junior year co-op experience, I said, “You know, I want to go out on a construction project.” They were reluctant to put women or girls on-site at that time, but I was finally given the opportunity to work on a concrete job. It allowed me to see everything that I had been drawing for the past three years be put in place in the field and to see how all the players work together in concert. That is when it clicked for me that I didn’t want to be sitting at a desk drafting and doing calculations; I wanted to be in the field, building buildings.

Q: How has the industry changed over your 40-year career?
A: The industry has evolved significantly. I recently took a workshop on diversity and inclusion with Kavon Archie [Gilbane’s Senior Inclusion Manager], and she shared a matrix on how inclusion builds belonging and just how much progress we’ve made. After the workshop, I went up to her and said, “That’s my career in construction.” That transition from: we don’t want you here, to you’re here because you have to be here, and to now we value you being here is really powerful. We’re moving towards a more inclusive environment where people can bring their authentic selves to work. When I first started in the industry, this was not the case. You had to fit in, be the smartest person in the room, and not let anyone know you’re the smartest person in the room. We’re making progress; however, there’s still much to be done.

Q: What is unique about the IU Health project and why do you enjoy working on this project?
A: The IU Health project is a $2.4 billion hospital, the largest currently being built in the country. The opportunity to build something of this size and complexity is incredible. The scale of the project is what makes it attractive in terms of the number of bid packages, number of square feet, number of contractors, and the time it takes to build it. This project is the size of an entire business unit at Gilbane. Being the operations manager in New York City, working with significant projects and large revenue goals, gave me the experience to lead a project of this size.

The fact that it’s a hospital is one of the things that intrigued me. It’s actually my first healthcare job.  

The team is incredible. Our joint venture partner, Wilhelm, who self-performs a lot of the work, adds a unique aspect. There has been a good synergy between Gilbane and Next 150 for growth and opportunities for our people. There is an opportunity to grow your career on this project because of its duration and its size which we’re trying to be very mindful of.

Q: Do you have an accomplishment you are most proud of in your career?
A: At this point in my career, I’m focusing on legacy, and legacy for me is not about building but about the impact you have on the people you work with. It’s not about individual accomplishments but about helping others move to the next phase in their career, which in turn helps grow the company.

Q: What advice would you give the next generation of women builders in the industry?
A: Work hard. It’s a demanding industry that requires all your effort and concentration. Hard work has gotten me where I am today, and it applies to not just women, but anyone entering this field. I think it’s that simple.

About Authors

Joanna Kripp

Joanna Kripp serves as Vice President and Project Director at Gilbane Building Company, where she oversees the Indiana University Health New Downtown Indianapolis Hospital. With 41 years of industry experience, Joanna is a seasoned leader with a strong background in managing at-risk construction projects, public initiatives, and new construction. Her decisive and tough-minded management approach, coupled with sound leadership skills and a genuine nature, consistently inspires team members to strive for excellence while overcoming project and career challenges. Joanna holds a BBS in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University.

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