Reévan Cole didn’t set out to build pump stations. "Webcor was kind of an accident," she says with a laugh. But accidents can reveal a foundation that was already there. What began as an unexpected opportunity has evolved into the cornerstone of Reévan's vision: creating affordable housing that truly serves the communities that need it most.
As an assistant project engineer on the Biosolids Digester Facilities Project (BDFP), Reévan brings a rare perspective to Webcor – one shaped by her architectural studies at UC Berkeley, lived experience in the Berkeley/Oakland area, and a commitment to design that centers on people.
Reévan’s path to architecture wasn’t a straight line. It began with a fifth-grade math assignment focused on floor plans, where she discovered her passion for both math and design. However, it wasn't until the ninth grade, through a digital media class assignment, that she felt she discovered her purpose. When tasked with creating a film about an issue close to her heart, Reévan chose to produce a documentary about homelessness in Oakland. Through the film, she aimed to explore the complex reasons people become unhoused and address misconceptions surrounding the issue. The project, "Is Homelessness a Choice?", proved transformative.
"That's when I decided that I want to help through design specifically," Reévan explains. "There are design strategies that can be made to assist unhoused and low-income individuals in a better way."
Growing up in the East Bay, Reévan witnessed and experienced the housing crisis firsthand. Her mother’s commitment to service – volunteering at their church's meal program – made a lasting impression. "I'd walk over to the church every Monday after school," she recalls. "I always had a fascination with housing, so being able to engage with unhoused and low-income communities gave me the opportunity to understand housing needs in a different way."
That fascination has evolved into a clear mission. "A lot goes into an affordable housing project," she says. "It's easy to lose focus on who the design is intended for, and for that reason, as both a designer and contractor, I want to focus on the lived experience of a space."
Reévan was introduced to Webcor through the 100 Black Men scholarship program while pursuing her undergraduate degree in Sustainable Environmental Design at UC Davis. A board member saw her resume and connected her with CIWI -- a partnership opportunity designed to give minority students exposure to the construction, development, and architecture fields. After a series of interviews, she was hired for a 2022 internship at BDFP and returned for a second internship in 2023.
Working at BDFP was her first experience setting foot on an active construction site. It opened her eyes to the full project lifecycle. "I was excited to leave one summer after putting core foundations in the basement, then next summer come back and see rebar going up for all the tanks," she says.
Her mentor, Sr. Project Director Rowena Domingo, encouraged her to explore the field widely. Reévan took that advice, interning at David Baker Architects in 2024 – a firm known for its affordable housing work. As a designer, she recognizes the significance of understanding the construction process, so as she entered graduate school, she realized she needed more than just a job; she needed a place to grow. She asked Rowena if an offer she had made to Reévan to return still stood. The answer was a definitive yes. She was hired part-time as an assistant project engineer in the summer of 2024.
In a world where many feedback loops go nowhere, Reévan found a different experience at Webcor. Initially working with the electrical team, she found a new mentor in Assistant Project Manager Niki Blinov, who pursued an architecture license while working in construction. "I want to do exactly what she's doing," Reévan says.
Now part of the Building 610 team, focused on digester tanks, roofing, and metal packages, Reèvan credits the BDFP team with creating an environment where curiosity is an asset. "So many people are willing to be mentors and teachers. They make it feel okay to be in a space where you don't know something."
That support was vital early on when imposter syndrome surfaced. "When I was first hired, I was questioning why I got the internship – in a room with all construction management and engineering students, I had a design major nobody else had or even heard of." But the BDFP culture made her feel comfortable, and her growth has been remarkable. The real-world experience has even enriched her graduate studies. "It's helped in terms of school -- translating what I learn on the jobsite to what I'm doing in class."
Cole is candid about the reality of being one of the few Black women at the company and one of only two at the BDFP site. "I don't see many Black women at Webcor," she notes, observing that representation is often higher in the field than in the office. "But it's uplifting when people in the field see another Black face in the office managing day-to-day activities."
While she has built strong relationships with subcontractors, she acknowledges that her age and background occasionally lead others to underestimate her, but she constantly strives to grow.
Reévan recently joined The Collective, Webcor's Black Employee Resource Group, and she plans to deepen her involvement. The goal is simple: to understand the mission and find her place in advancing it.
