Honoring Excellence: Three Inspiring Women Shaping the Georgia Tech Campus

Earlier this month, Georgia Tech celebrated three events — the concrete topping out of Tech Square Phase 3, a beam signing for the Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center, and the grand opening of the permanent outdoor art installation Pathway of Progress: Celebrating Georgia Tech Women. What all of these events have in common is that they have been guided by female construction project managers. Two of the three are alumnae, and all three are expertly shaping the Georgia Tech built environment.  

Their attention to detail, collaboration skills, and leadership serve as inspiration for not only female students but also their colleagues in the Planning, Design, and Construction department within Infrastructure and Sustainability. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is an ideal time to spotlight these remarkable women who embody the spirit of progress and service at Georgia Tech.  

Lindsey Cottingham and the George and Scheller Towers at Tech Square: A Tech Alumna Leading by Design 

With a civil engineering background from Georgia Tech (CE 2005, M.S. CE 2006), Lindsey has spent almost eight years working in the Institute’s Planning, Design, and Construction Department. She worked in construction management for educational environments before joining Tech, but she was drawn back by its reputation for innovative building design and long-term planning.  

Her contributions span key developments such as the Price Gilbert and Crosland Tower Library renovation project and the Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium addition, among many others. Previously, she managed wellness centers for Spelman College and The Lovett School, along with more than $100 million in K-12 school projects. Her journey into construction project management began with an interest in architecture, inspired by childhood walks through historical neighborhoods in St. Louis with her father. Over time, her focus shifted to solving tangible challenges, leading her to structural engineering.  

With the Tech Square project rising daily before our eyes, according to Lindsey, one of the most interesting things about the project is that the building is expected to use about 80% less energy than a comparably sized, existing Atlanta office building. Through a careful balancing of window-to-wall ratio and detailing of the facade insulation, along with high-performance insulated glass and the airtightness of joints in the curtain wall, the building’s HVAC requirements are greatly reduced. 

Lindsey reflects on the joy of seeing the completed buildings that she has helped bring to life: “It’s amazing to look at something and know all the little decisions and time that went into making it what it is. As an alumna, it’s fulfilling to know I’ve made a mark on this campus.”  

Heather Hardie and the Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center: Forging a Path to Building Excellence 

This accomplished alumna (M.S. BC 2000) joined the Institute as a project manager after spending two decades as a general contractor. With an undergraduate degree in art and experience teaching K-12, her transition to construction was both unexpected and inspired. 

Before joining Tech, one of Heather's career highlights included the renovation of Benjamin E. Mays High School, where she faced the immense challenge of rebuilding the structure's spine while maintaining the integrity of the existing building. She relied on her experience of bringing the right people together, creative problem-solving, and trusting the process for a successful and award-winning renovation.

Her current project at Georgia Tech, the Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center, has her collaborating with and managing various campus stakeholders – most notably Georgia Tech Athletics. According to Heather, one of the most interesting things about the project is discovering the hidden secrets that lie within the historic footprint of Bobby Dodd Stadium. 

Heather attributes much of her success to having a good mentor who emphasized the importance of balanced collaboration and innovative problem-solving. The process of creating a new building can be challenging on many levels. “Being a builder can sometimes be a thankless job. But once you turn over the building, there is a huge reward in seeing people enjoying the space,” she said, noting how cool it is to see one of her buildings in a movie. “I can say, ‘Hey, I built that!’” 

Carla Barbour and the ‘Pathway of Progress’: Driving Change Through Community Impact 

With a career spanning more than three decades, Carla has spent the last nine years at Georgia Tech making a meaningful mark on campus. With degrees in economics, interior design, and a master’s in science law, her decision to work in higher education was influenced by her extensive experience at nonprofits like the American Red Cross after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, federal agencies, and the U.S. Armed Forces. She finds immense satisfaction in projects that drive change on a community-wide scale.  

At Tech, she is particularly proud of her projects such as the ACC Network Operations facility, the Marcus Nanotechnology Cell Manufacturing Lab, the 10th Street Chiller Plant Electrical Resiliency project, and the recently completed Pathway of Progress: Celebrating Georgia Tech Women.  

According to Carla, one of the most interesting things about the project is the women honorees, particularly the legacies of some of the first women who attended Georgia Tech. In addition to the existing honorees, Pathway of Progress was designed with more than 3,000 blank tiles for future honorees. 

Reflecting on her journey, Carla emphasizes the importance of listening and adaptability in overcoming the challenges of project lifecycles. Her father, who she describes as the epitome of a servant leader, was her first mentor and remains a guiding influence in her career.  

“It does feel great to see a building or a project I have worked on achieve its completion and open to the public," she says.