emPloyee sPotlight

Claudia Vasquez, Virtual Design and Construction Project Manager

What is your construction background (education, training, etc.)?

I have a double bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M Prairie View in Architecture and Construction Management. After graduation I was a structural designer, building information modeling (BIM) coordinator, and now a virtual design and construction project manager.

How did you become interested in construction, specifically BIM? Since college I’ve been interested in building design and the thought that goes into smart and responsible construction. After graduation, I took a job that was mainly drafting, which I enjoyed, but I wanted to be more immersed in the projects. In order to understand design, I feel it’s important to understand BIM and how it’s used in the preconstruction and construction phases which meant I needed to fully understand the construction process. This prompted me to take a job as the BIM coordinator at another Houston general contractor which in turn lead me to Bellows Construction where I am developing the in-house BIM department.

What do you find the most interesting/challenging aspect of BIM and what do you see as the biggest benefits for a project?

The most interesting and challenging aspect about BIM is the successful coordination of architecture, engineering, and subcontractors’ models into one master file so the team can view the building prior to the commencement of construction. BIM is in high demand right now and is used on almost every project because ultimately, finding solutions before construction starts can help save the project time and money.

Have you had to overcome any challenges in this career path? Learning all the trades was imperative so that I can execute my part of the project and coordinate the BIM process properly and successfully. My job wouldn’t be possible without the support and collaboration from the Bellows team and subcontractors. We help each other so the final product is a satisfied client with a beautiful and functional facility.

What is you favorite thing to do outside of work?

I am a mom and wife so spending time with my family takes priority. There is always an activity we need to get to and someone always needs me. They definitely keep me busy and happy. I also love soccer! I have always enjoyed playing and watching soccer so I was very entertained during the World Cup. Lastly, I love a clean and organized space. I have found this to be one of my favorites things to do and believe it or not, it helps me relax!