At HERA laboratory planners, Andrea Ingersoll Totte takes pride in – and is highly respected for – assisting institutions engaged in research and development, clinical studies, and material science to develop their testing spaces. As a laboratory planner, she meets with clients and user groups to understand their daily routines, processes, and workflows, ensuring that process planning and space arrangements align with workflow requirements while minimizing safety risks. Praised by her colleagues, Ms. Ingersoll Totte is especially adept at addressing unique challenges within specialized workspaces. Her aim is to continue her inspiring work alongside scientists by contributing her expertise to advance research environments worldwide.
Before joining HERA laboratory planners, Ms. Ingersoll Totte was a senior laboratory specialist and project leader at LPA, Inc. in Texas, where she led teams in designing and implementing advanced laboratory environments, leveraging her expertise to deliver innovative solutions tailored to client needs. Previously, she held dual roles as project architect and lab planner at STG Design in Austin, Texas. Among her most notable achievements during this period was the development of a lightning simulation facility for a client in the year 2000. The facility, the 15th of its kind ever built, is equivalent in size to a football field and was constructed as a large Faraday cage within another building. It was designed to simulate atmospheric conditions for testing various materials. Ms. Ingersoll Totte led a team of 18 members to complete this complex project, demonstrating her commitment to advancing scientific infrastructure.
Peering further into her vast experience, Ms. Ingersoll Totte was a steel detailer with American Buildings, contributing technical expertise in structural detailing for commercial projects. Her earlier stints include working as a staff designer and building information modeling manager at Risinger + Associates Inc. in the greater Chicago area, managing digital modeling processes to enhance project coordination. Moreover, Ms. Ingersoll Totte was a designer at Giuliani Associates Architects, Inc., in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, where she helped to design institutional and commercial facilities. Additionally, she was the building information modeling manager for the Farnsworth Group, overseeing digital design integration across multidisciplinary teams. Ms. Ingersoll Totte’s primary career path was launched when she was an architect intern at Angus Young Associates, gaining foundational experience in architectural practice.
Throughout her career, Ms. Ingersoll Totte has remained active with numerous industry organizations, including the Tilt-Up Concrete Association, American Glovebox Society, Laboratory Safety Institute, ACGIH, American Chemical Society, and the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council of the National Institute of Building Sciences. She has served as director of the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories since 2020 and as director of the Central Texas location of the same organization since 2019. In addition, she has been affiliated with the Project Management Institute Austin Chapter since 2019 and has been a member of the League of Women Voters since 2018. Other longstanding memberships include AUGI Inc., ASIS International, and the American Institute of Steel Construction since 2011, and NCARB since 2007.
Laying a strong educational foundation for her future technical proficiency and innovative approach to laboratory design, Ms. Ingersoll Totte earned a bachelor’s degree in architectural studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and completed coursework in architectural studies at ENSAV in France. Staying current with professional developments and credentials to enhance her capabilities throughout her career, she holds a litany of certifications from, but not limited to, CodeBook Smarter Room & Asset Data Management, Nucor Corporation, Autodesk, and the OSHA Safety Training Institute. In a separate, short career, she was also licensed as an insurance producer across 11 states. For her achievements, Ms. Ingersoll Totte is grateful for the support of her family, mentors, and community, all of whom encouraged her to persevere through personal challenges during her academic pursuits. Despite experiencing significant adversity that necessitated a six-year break from her studies, she continued advancing professionally before returning to complete her degree.
Ms. Ingersoll Totte’s sense of civic responsibility and her actual engagement are extensive – donating her time to organizations close to her heart, including wautEcabm, Inc., the Construction Specifications Institute, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, the American Red Cross, Indivisible CENTEX, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., among others.
Born in Bloomington–Normal, Illinois, Ms. Ingersoll Totte is fluent in French and German. Away from work, she enjoys traveling, painting, cooking, playing various musical instruments, working on fiber arts projects, and gardening.