Celebrating Women in Construction: SK’s Cynthia Salah Kraus

Celebrating Women in Construction: SK’s Cynthia Salah Kraus

by Sweiskloss
March 13, 2025

Women comprise nearly 47% of the national workforce according to the US Chamber of Commerce, yet they make up only 10% of the construction industry (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). This means that “for every 10 people in a construction-related role, [only] one of them is a woman.” But those numbers are on the rise! In honor of Women’s History Month, we celebrate one of our own. Meet Cynthia Salah Kraus. An architect, a construction project manager, an amateur baker, and one of SweisKloss’ newest team members! Holding a Bachelor of Architecture degree from USC, and a Lighting Design Certification from Otis College of Art and Design, Cynthia is a licensed architect in California and LEED BD+C Accredited professional. She has had a distinguished career having worked for several architecture firms before she opened her own company, Openhaus, with a female colleague. The woman-owned business designed residential homes throughout the Los Angeles area with a keen eye for details, dedication to sustainability, and passion for functionality and beauty. Interested in the complete process, from putting plans on the page to the actual construction of the spaces, she joined SweisKloss as a Construction Project Manager. With over 30 years in the industry, Cynthis brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to SweisKloss. She is responsible for coordinating (read multi-tasking and juggling) several projects from new builds to renovations to ADUs. Having worked on both the design and construction sides, she has a unique perspective and has been instrumental in streamlining the process from beginning to end. She enjoys interacting with the designers, superintendents and trades alike. When not in the office, the native Angeleno enjoys discovering the city’s hidden gems with her husband and son. She also cooks, bakes and dabbles in sewing and embroidery.