Nevertheless, asked about it in an interview many years later, Ellenberger confirmed that women in the construction industry were "frowned upon", but having completed her schooling at the relatively young age of 17, her options had been limited.[2] Her father's connections in the construction sector had provided her with a training opportunity which provided a practical preparation for her subsequent career.[4] She also confirmed that she had been aware, when embarking on an apprenticeship as a building worker, that this did not necessarily mean she would do this work throughout her career.[4] In 1965 she moved on to the Technical Academy for Architecture and Construction at Weimar, emerging in 1971 with an engineering degree (Dipl.-Ing) which constituted the basis for her subsequent architectural career in construction.[4][3] Between 1974 and 1990 Ellenberger was employed as a Project engineer.[2]