Season 3, Episode 4: Constructing Tomorrow: Luciana Burdi's Leadership In A Transforming Industry
On season 3, episode 4 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Luciana Burdi, director of capital programs & environmental affairs at Massport, to discuss her journey, the challenges she's overcome as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and her vision for the future of commercial construction.
Additionally, Burdi talks about how Massport has tackled challenges in the wake of the COVID pandemic, the evolving flexible work environment, and the impact of new technology on construction projects.
Dr. Luciana Burdi is the Director for Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs for the Massachusetts Port Authority.
As Director, she is responsible for the development, administration, and execution of the CIP (Capital Investment Program) for all Massport facilities which includes Logan International Airport (BOS), Worcester Regional Airport, Hanscom Field, Conley Container Terminal, Flynn Cruiseport Terminal, and other Real Estate properties. She leads the Authority’s environmental permitting and management, safety program, utilities management and the in-house design and design technologies integration teams. In her role, Burdi is leading the shift of Capital Programs towards a more innovative, progressive, Data and Design Technology-driven department. By adopting Lean, Scrum and Lean Construction principles, she is also very committed to create a culture of continuous improvement focusing on delivering “best-in-class” infrastructure projects for our customers. Her commitment to sustainability, diversity and talent development provides a wide spread of opportunities for staff and ultimately improving quality outcomes. Prior to joining Massport, she held several positions at the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Burdi is a member of the NIBS (National Institute of Building Sciences) BIM Program Steering Committee, the IAB (Industrial Advisory Board) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University and a Board Member for the Lean Construction Institute (LCI).
In 2023, Burdi was inducted into the National Academy of Construction (NAC), contributing to the efforts of the Academy and continuing to improve the design and construction industry.
In 2022, she participated in the Civil Action Project (CAP) Collaborative as an Executive Fellow. In 2019 Burdi received the “Women in Design Award” from the AIA-BSA (Boston Society of Architects), in 2018 she received the National “Chair’s Innovation Award” and the National “Sustainability Award” by the CMAA. And in 2015, she received the CMAA National Award in “New Technologies Techniques” in CM for advancing the use of valuable new technologies in construction management.
She received her Doctorate from Harvard Graduate School of Design. Previously, she was a SPURS Fellow (Special Program in Urban and Regional Studies) at MIT and she holds a Master's Degree from the Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (IUAV) in Venice Italy.