Trina Sandschafer, AIA
Trina Sandschafer, AIA, is an architect, design strategist, and executive based in Chicago. She is the Vice President and Managing Director, Chicago at Project Management Advisors, leading the Chicago and Midwest markets.
A sought-after expert, Trina provides high-level advisory to growing and evolving organizations. She navigates the intersection of design and strategy to propel projects forward. Her business acumen and strategic planning foster the growth of individuals, teams, and organizations.
Trina is committed to the transformative power of design and excels in bringing clarity to complex challenges. A seasoned critical thinker, she prioritizes user-centric approaches that yield insightful analyses and compelling results. She is well known for her adeptness in fostering strong, collaborative relationships.
A dynamic leader, Trina actively engages in professional discourse, serving on design juries, delivering talks on design thinking, and contributing to many industry publications and organizations. A frequent panelist, she is a subject matter expert in multi-family residential and multi-disciplinary projects.
Prior to joining PMA, Trina was an Executive Vice President and Design Principal at a national design firm, leading the firm’s expansion; and a Design Principal at a Chicago-based boutique design firm, responsible for the design intent and clarity of firm projects.
Trina was named to Crain’s Chicago Business’s “Notable Women in Construction and Design.” She serves as the Vice-Chair of the Chicago Women in Architecture Foundation. Trina has also served in multiple professor and advisory roles at the Illinois School of Architecture. She currently Chairs the Architecture Alumni Advisory Board for the institution.