Fallon Lee loves lots of things: traveling, the outdoors, art, scuba diving, sporting events, and spending time outside, to name a few. But Lee finds her knack for engineering helpful for others and fulfilling for herself. AMP sat down with Lee to discuss how she found her career path and the journey that she’s been on along the way.
Lee grew up in East End, just outside of Little Rock. Her hobbies ran the gamut of activities and places; the sky is the limit for Lee.
“My favorite thing in the world is to travel,” Lee shares. “The feeling of experiencing a new place and culture is so rewarding. I love to admire art and visit museums, and try new food or a sporting event. I also love to scuba dive, exercise (pilates is my go-to), and enjoy most Arkansas outdoor activities when the weather is nice (lake-ing, hiking, biking, walking, etc.). I am also an avid sports fan — I love keeping up with football and, of course, spending time with my family, friends, and my dog Teddy.”
Lee attended Arkansas State University and loved it. She enrolled in the engineering program, the size of which enabled students to have good relationships with their professors — a perk that Lee found to be important as classes got more difficult and as she began to ponder her career after college.
Lee says that the decision to go into the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) field was not a sudden one. In fact, Lee spent lots of time trying to figure out what she wanted to do.
“I struggled for a while in college to find an area of engineering I could see myself enjoying long term. My older sister is an architect and briefly explained that she worked with engineers on construction projects. That quick conversation opened a door for me, and I never looked back.”
Today, Lee spends the majority of her time collaborating with architects on how engineering systems would work inside of a hypothetical design.
“As important as mechanical systems are, they are not the most beautiful part of a building, so it is important to make sure we are working with the architects to design the system to blend in while also saving energy and providing the system solutions the owner needs,” Lee elaborates. “Sometimes that looks like working on calculations for a few hours, other times, it is 3D modeling or meeting with architects and contractors on a job site to problem-solve.”
Lee notes that being a woman in a male-dominated career has not come without its challenges.
“It’s still a little surprising to me how shocked people are to have a woman in the room and definitely at a seat at the table,” she says. “I have to consciously remind myself that I should be there.”
Fortunately, Lee shares that the AEC field has changed considerably over time.
“My business partner, Kim Koch, started our firm Insight Engineering at the end of 2018. To have a female-owned and -operated firm is inspiring and exciting,” Lee says. “It is not the defining characteristic of our firm, but it is an important one. I honestly did not anticipate having an opportunity like Insight during my lifetime. I hope that a future generation of little girls will hear about Insight and be inspired to start their own firm.”
Lee shares that the AEC field has more of a communal feel now compared to when she entered it.
“We regularly get together with other women in the industry, including competitors and clients, to discuss how we can support each other and continue growing women in the field,” Lee shares. “The conversations are always so open and honest. I am especially inspired by the women who have been in the field for 20+ years without this type of support system. They have so much wisdom, and their willingness to share it is so respectable to me.”
This communal mentality, Lee explains, has gone beyond the AEC field to encompass all aspects and individuals involved in designing a community.
“The design community has such an opportunity to impact the future of Arkansas. Working with studioMAIN and talented colleagues has shown me the ripple effect that thoughtful and intentional design can have for communities. Being able to focus on Arkansas projects fuels this passion, and I look forward to seeing the exciting changes this will bring.”
Lee offers a word of advice to anyone who is contemplating joining the AEC field.
“Mentorship has been a lifeline for me. When you take a step up the ladder, reaching to help pull someone up with you has changed my life,” she says. “I have been so fortunate to have that type of support and encouragement during critical parts of my career. My business partner, Kim, does this better than I have ever seen, and she inspires me to do the same. Find a great mentor, and then become one. That is how we can improve the field as a whole.”