Инженер из Индии стала единственной женщиной-застройщиком в районе Лос-Альтос

Tilu Arora took an unusual path to becoming a contractor. The former tech worker said her interest in construction and design came after she and her husband purchased land in Los Altos Hills to build their home in 2008.  “I didn’t realize that this (contracting) would be my career,” Arora said. “I got so entrenched in it. Being from an engineering background, you question everything and you get the details of everything.”  Arora immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 with a degree in computer engineering from Shivaji University in India. The following year, she graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Master of Science in engineering and moved to Silicon Valley to work for SAP Sybase and later E*TRADE.  After the birth of her third child, Arora left tech to focus on her family. With the help of a local contractor during the construction of her home, Arora said she became interested in design, as well as civil and structural engineering. She established her own contracting company in 2022, Intellix Design Inc., where she manages and develops projects from ground-up construction to interior design.  Arora said she takes inspiration from European and Israeli architecture. She manages projects across the South Bay – from ADUs and interior remodels, to landscaping and large-scale construction. Arora is currently working on two landscaping projects in Los Altos and remodels in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.  Breaking barriers from engineering to contracting was not an easy feat for Arora, who acknowledged the lack of Indian and female representation in the contracting community.  “People tell me they’ve never come across anyone who is a female (contractor) living here,” said Arora, adding that she might be the only woman contractor in the Los Altos area. “Some people say as a female, you’re doing this and all that, but on the other side, you have to try harder (to prove yourself).” She takes pride in her own home’s integrated design and her ability to leverage building in phases to lower financial risks and spread out construction costs.  “We built the house in two phases because I had a vision and I didn’t want to compromise on the materials and the vision,” Arora said. “I can visualize things. Even if I’m looking at a picture, I can see details in it which nobody else would question.” Arora said she hopes to expand her client connections and continue creating spaces that feel timeless and functional. Her advice to others considering a career change is to follow their passion with perseverance.  “You have one life to live,” said Arora. “If you have the passion, then you will come out much happier on the other side.”