Bringing Renewed Leadership to the Midwest Market

Project Management Advisors, Inc. Taps Trina Sandschafer, AIA, as Vice President and Managing Director – Chicago, Bringing Renewed Leadership to the Midwest Market

Project Management Advisors, Inc. (PMA), a leading national provider of owner’s representative and advisory services, is proud to announce that Trina Sandschafer, AIA, has joined PMA as the firm’s new Vice President and Managing Director – Chicago. This strategic hire is an investment in PMA’s Chicago office and reinforces its strength across the Midwest region, where the firm continues to grow.  

Sandschafer is a seasoned architect and executive with experience in both design and business leadership. She sees the evolution from traditional architecture practice to owner representation and advisory as a natural fit. Sandschafer characterized her new role as a way for her to use strategic thinking and explore new opportunities to drive impact for PMA clients.

“The multidisciplinary expertise that lives inside of PMA is very compelling to me,” she explained. “Our diverse team of real estate experts touch all aspects of a project, from architecture, engineering and planning to development, finance and construction. By bringing PMA to the table early on, we can skillfully identify and solve problems, maximize opportunity, and set projects up for success.”

Sandschafer’s previous roles include Executive Vice President and Design Principal at Kahler Slater, where she led the expansion of the firm into the Chicago market, and Design Principal at Booth Hansen, where her work can be seen across Chicago, from collaborating with the Chicago Housing Authority on the Plan for Transformation to partnering with Draper and Kramer at 61 East Banks Street. Sandschafer has also led multiple graduate studios at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, exploring the future of adaptive reuse and the shift in multifamily residential design.

Sandschafer, who holds a Master of Architecture and serves as Chair of the Illinois School of Architecture Alumni Advisory Board at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a champion for advancing the architecture profession, showcasing the many ways that architecture shapes our world.

“Chicago is the center for business in the Midwest and our partners here impact projects locally and nationally,” said Sandschafer. “Locally, we’re seeing many clients find creative ways to invest and repurpose existing properties to create meaningful new spaces both downtown and for neighborhoods that have been traditionally underserved.”  

PMA’s projects in the Chicago area underline the firm’s dedication to creating positive change with the city’s visionary leaders. Recent work includes a partnership with Austin Coming Together and the Lamar Johnson Collaborative at the ASPIRE Center in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, a $40-million redevelopment of a former elementary school into a vibrant community hub. PMA is currently partnering with the Chicago Sky on the WNBA team’s new practice facility. Spotlight projects also include Shapack and Focus Development’s 167 North Green, a Gensler-designed, mixed-use development that redefines urban space amenities to bring a Class A office building to Fulton Market. The firm has been a leader in local and Midwest healthcare projects, including longstanding partnerships with La Rabida Children’s Hospital and Indiana University Health.

Sandschafer’s deep ties to the architecture and real estate communities align with PMA’s commitment to building strong collaborative relationships with their project partners in Chicago, the Midwest, and nationally across all eight regional offices.

“The addition of Trina to our team reflects PMA’s commitment to strong leadership and presence in Chicago while expanding our Midwestern footprint,” said Andy Roscoe, PMA Eastern Regional President. “Her leadership will drive projects that serve our clients and communities alike.”

About Project Management Advisors, Inc.
Project Management Advisors, Inc. (PMA) is a national real estate advisory firm providing consulting services as the owner’s representative, including development management, project management, program management and investor representation. Recognized among the commercial real estate industry’s top professional services firms, including being named to Engineering News-Record top CM fee-only firms for three years in a row, PMA is a leader in addressing the increasingly sophisticated real estate needs and challenges of their clients, minimizing risk while maximizing outcomes. Headquartered in Chicago, PMA has additional offices in Austin, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Tampa, San Diego and San Francisco and delivers more than 30 years of practical experience across project types, markets and public and private sector industries. For more information, visit pmainc.com.

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