By: Julia Davis
September 8, 2025
Top image: A Link light rail train passes through the Lynnwood Link Extension corridor. This major infrastructure project, which added 8.5 miles of new light rail service, was led in part by Konradsson. Photo courtesy of Skanska.

From Iceland to Washington, UW alumnus Thorvaldur Konradsson makes his mark by championing teamwork, mentoring young engineers and leading by example.

At nearly $1 billion, Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link Extension is one of the Seattle region’s largest recent infrastructure projects. Spanning 3.7 miles northward from Shoreline to Lynnwood, Washington, the light rail extension connects growing suburban communities directly to Seattle’s urban core.

The multiyear effort, which began construction in 2019 and opened to riders in 2024, includes two elevated stations, 2.3 miles of elevated rail guideway, extensive street improvements and a new 1,650-stall parking garage. More than 4 million labor hours and hundreds of construction workers went into creating the newest section of the Seattle light rail system. Despite major disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and regional labor shortages, the project finished on time and on budget.

On the team overseeing this enormous effort was Thorvaldur (Thor) Konradsson (MSCE ’10), a project executive at Skanska who has spent more than 15 years guiding teams through complex logistical challenges. Ask him what led to the project’s success, and his answer is straightforward.

“It’s always about the people who work to build it. There's no magic. You’ve got to have the right people at the right time with the right attitude,” Konradsson says. “And when a problem or obstacle comes up, you run to it as fast as you can and you tackle it together. That’s why these projects succeed.”

That philosophy has shaped not only the Lynnwood Link Extension, but also Konradsson’s longstanding relationship with CEE. Despite a demanding schedule, Konradsson frequently returns to the department, giving guest lectures, mentoring students and arranging visits to active construction sites so students see heavy construction in action.
 

Growing up in construction

Konradsson’s career in construction started long before he arrived at the UW. Growing up in Iceland, he worked on large infrastructure projects alongside his siblings, gaining firsthand construction experience by operating heavy machinery at just 16. His family’s projects ranged from bridges and dams to highways and tunnels, giving him an early appreciation for teamwork and creative problem-solving.

“Every day brought new challenges,” Konradsson recalls. “My family’s approach was always straightforward: find solutions, move forward.”

After nearly a decade in the industry, he pursued an engineering degree at Reykjavik University. It was there that he first learned about the UW’s Valle Scholarship Program, an initiative supporting graduate student exchanges with Nordic countries, through former Program Director Scott Rutherford. Funded through a longstanding endowment, the program has supported hundreds of scholars since its founding in 1980. Konradsson decided to apply and enrolled at the UW as a Valle scholar in 2009.

Finding his footing at the UW

Konradsson’s commitment to mentorship stems from his own experience as a graduate student, one shaped by collaboration, curiosity and a drive to grow.

CEE Professor Emeritus Joe Mahoney, his advisor, remembers how Konradsson’s practical experience stood out, both as a student and later as a mentor to others.

“He was like a sponge. He came in with all this heavy construction experience from working with his family’s company, and yet he was eager to learn everything he could,” Mahoney says. “You don’t always see that in students with real-world experience. He was intense, energetic and completely engaged. For me, as an adviser, he was a joy.”

CEE Assistant Professor Julian Yamaura, who was Konradsson’s classmate at the time, remembers him as a constant source of encouragement, urging his peers to pursue practical careers beyond classroom theory.

“He inspired us to seek out careers that embraced fieldwork where we could witness construction in action and tackle unique challenges,” Yamaura says.

Though Konradsson intended to return to Iceland after finishing his degree, Mahoney introduced him to leaders at Skanska. When offered a position, Konradsson decided to stay, though it meant starting over professionally in a new country.

“It was humbling,” Konradsson says. “There were no shortcuts. I had to prove myself all over again.”

Building lasting impact

Today, Konradsson continues to support the next generation of engineers at the UW. In addition to guest lectures, he regularly attends campus recruiting events, helps students network within the industry and supports the career development of UW graduates within Skanska.

“Going through school, I saw how challenging it can be for students to break into construction,” Konradsson says. “I realized I could help them get a leg up.”

As a leader at Skanska, Konradsson is just as committed to helping young engineers grow once they enter the workforce.

“He doesn’t just hire graduates,” Mahoney says. “He teaches them, challenges them and makes sure they succeed.”

Yamaura sees Konradsson’s leadership continuing to make an impression on young engineers.

“What makes him stand out is that he genuinely cares about the next generation of engineers. He’s approachable, which resonates with new graduates who are going into a brand new field that they might not know too much about,” he says.

Shaping future engineers

At Skanska, Konradsson applies his hands-on philosophy through a structured mentorship program. New engineers rotate through various project roles, including surveying, environmental compliance and quality control, to help them discover their strengths and interests.

“Somebody starting out in construction often doesn't know what they’ll be best at. You don’t know what you don’t know,” Konradsson says. “You just have to try things, and often, people surprise themselves.”

His mentoring has left a mark on the region, with many engineers who started their careers under his guidance now leading major projects across the Pacific Northwest, from highway improvements to bridges and rail expansions.

Watching those engineers grow into leadership roles is what Konradsson finds most rewarding.

“I enjoy seeing the progression of people, and watching their talent bloom as they take on amazing things and are successful at them,” he says.

While Konradsson prefers to focus on the people behind the work, the industry has taken notice of his leadership. The Lynnwood Link project earned the prestigious Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC) Grand Award, recognizing it as the nation’s best construction project in its category. Konradsson also earned the AGC Project Manager of the Year award, along with several other honors recognizing the project’s emphasis on safety, environmental stewardship and equity. These values, he says, are central to his work.

He credits these accolades to the collective efforts of his teams, saying that awards merely underscore the teamwork and discipline necessary for successful projects.

“I grew up solving problems alongside people who cared about the work and each other,” he says. “Construction, at its core, is about collaboration and determination.”

Reflecting on a journey that began on Iceland’s rugged construction sites, and brought him to the heart of Seattle’s transit network, Konradsson remains focused on building, mentoring and giving back.

“To me, this has never just been about building infrastructure,” Konradsson says. “It’s about building communities, creating opportunities for others and leaving things better than you found them.”