Andrea Ingersoll Totte

I attribute my success to persistence, curiosity, and a commitment to designing spaces that create positive impact. Over the past 17 years, I’ve followed an architectural path shaped by roles ranging from intern architect to VDC manager, each offering a different lens on how environments influence people. Today, I design laboratories at Hera Incorporated, where it’s deeply fulfilling to create spaces that support breakthroughs in cancer research, materials innovation, and other work that advances global well-being. One highlight of my career was helping design a lightning simulation facility—one of only fifteen worldwide—which reinforced my belief that architecture’s most meaningful contributions aren’t always visible to the public.

My foundation was built at the University of Illinois and strengthened through studies at the École Nationale VGL in Versailles, where learning inside the Palace of Versailles’ historic stables and conducting research in Herculaneum taught me to see buildings as living narratives. This year, I’ll spend a semester at Harvard collaborating with our founder on next-generation lab design guidelines—a rare opportunity to both learn from someone I’ve long admired and help shape the future of laboratory architecture.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is that mentorship isn’t a hierarchy—it’s a partnership. Mentors aren’t people who stand above you; they’re collaborators who grow alongside you, challenge your thinking, and help you see possibilities you might have missed. That mindset has shaped how I seek guidance and how I show up for others. My involvement with organizations like I2SL, AIA, NCARB, the Glovebox Society, and my past work with the Laboratory Safety Institute reflects my belief that professional communities strengthen us as designers and contribute to creating safer, more innovative scientific environments.

I encourage young women entering this industry to follow the interests that genuinely spark something in them. The most meaningful work comes from curiosity, not convenience. Early in your career, you may not be exposed to every specialty or niche within design, and it can be easy to follow the most visible or familiar path—but staying open allows you to discover where your passion truly lies and where you can excel.

I’m grateful that my own openness led me to laboratory design, a field that energizes me every day. It gives me a deeper appreciation for science, problem-solving, and the impact of thoughtful design. Through collaboration, I learn constantly, and I’m reminded how profoundly layout and architecture shape how people experience a space. When you pursue what inspires you, you not only grow—you thrive.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is that architecture and construction are still environments where I often walk into a room and find I’m the only woman there. Being heard, taken seriously, and trusted with complex technical work has frequently meant proving myself twice over. Recognition isn’t something that arrives automatically—you earn it again and again.

At the same time, there is enormous opportunity in this moment. As the industry continues to acknowledge the value of diverse voices, there is growing space for women to lead, innovate, and reshape how we approach design and collaboration. The shift is gradual, but it’s happening—and being part of that progress is both motivating and meaningful.

The values that guide me in both work and life center on service, creativity, and presence. Outside of architecture, much of my energy goes toward mutual aid—organizing gift drives for children or helping neighbors meet unmet needs. I believe in supporting people directly, without the noise of politics, and showing up for my community whenever possible.

Creativity and hands-on practice are equally important to me. Whether cooking, painting, quilting, or embroidering, these activities—and time spent with my family—allow me to recharge, cultivate focus, and return to my work with clarity and purpose.