Building Beyond Boundaries

In a small town in India, where construction sites are almost dominated by men, a young architect named Shripriya Agarwal (MPM '25) dreamed of breaking barriers.

Today, her sights are set on doing more than designing buildings. She wants to reshape the entire built environment sector.

Agarwal (MPM '25) is a student in Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Project Management (MPM) program. Her journey from architecture to construction management is as unique as her vision for the industry’s future.

“Unlike many architects, I didn’t grow up with a natural affinity for toys like Lego, nor did I dream of creating the next iconic skyscraper,” said Agarwal, who earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Balwant Sheth School of Architecture in India in July 2024. “Instead, my passion is rooted in numbers, data, and the pursuit of meaningful impact.”

This data-driven approach led Agarwal to question conventional architectural practices. She wondered why most buildings look the same and often feel isolating rather than community-oriented. Those questions fueled her desire to create spaces that are not just functional, but also joyful.

While earning her bachelor’s degree, Agarwal gained diverse experience in architectural design, on-site construction management, and project feasibility analysis. Her internships ranged from working on hyperscale data centers in Mumbai to residential and commercial developments.

“Those diverse experiences provided me with a solid foundation in design, project management, and cross-disciplinary collaboration,” Agarwal said. “They prepared me to embrace the challenges and innovations in construction management.”

The transition from India to the MPM program presented its own set of challenges. Adapting to different construction methodologies and industry practices in the US required Agarwal to reframe her preconceptions.

The shift pushed her to embrace new ways of thinking. The MPM program’s inclusive and supportive culture made this adjustment smoother, turning challenges into valuable learning experiences, she said.

Now after completing her second quarter, Agarwal is thriving. She is part of a team working on a capstone project to convert a cold storage facility into a state-of-the-art smart building. This project, she believes, has the potential to extend beyond academia and into real industry applications.

Agarwal's ambitions go far beyond her time at Northwestern. After graduation, she hopes to drive further innovation in the built environment sector by integrating lean practices, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies.

“This summer, I’ll begin my journey with a full-time role as a field engineer at Gilbane Building Company, where I’ll gain hands-on experience with advanced construction tools and methodologies,” Agarwal said. “Ultimately, my goal is to leverage this experience to either lead big projects or launch my own company.”

As Agarwal looks to the future, she remains committed to breaking down barriers for women in the built environment sector. In her native India, approximately 57 million people participate in the construction and real estate sector. Just more than 12 percent are women.

Agarwal wants her journey to inspire aspiring female leaders.

“Many well-wishers advised me to focus on the design side of things,” Agarwal said of her early efforts to break into the built environment sector. “However, I am determined to break that mold. I look forward to excelling as a general contractor and leading innovation in this sector, paving the way for more women to thrive in construction management.”