Trina Sandschafer serves as Vice President and Design Principal at Kahler Slater, where she is responsible for establishing, inspiring, and directing the comprehensive development of the design process. She is passionate about architecture as a discipline and a craft.

In Chicago, where she leads the firm’s design studio, Trina serves as national leader for the residential, hospitality, and corporate practices. She is well known for her exemplary design skills, as well as her ability to build strong relationships and attract key collaborators. Trina leads all projects with a user-focused approach, resulting in clear conceptual analysis and engaging results. As a critical thinker, she excels at bringing clarity to complex programs. Trina’s extensive experience spans a wide range of scales - creating opportunities for diverse clients.

An alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Trina is actively involved with the Illinois School of Architecture as a mentor, professional practice liaison, and design critic, working with students to address critical architectural design issues in today’s cities. Trina was the 2020-2021 Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Illinois School of Architecture, leading the Chicago Studio and addressing the paradigm shift in urban housing. She is a frequent guest critic and speaker at universities throughout the country. In 2019, she was honored to deliver the Illinois School of Architecture Convocation Address.

Trina serves as Chair of the Illinois School of Architecture Alumni Advisory Board.