CHICAGO, IL — Skender, a full-service construction firm, announces the hiring of Andrew Lehrer as Project Executive in its growing Mission Critical group. With more than 20 years of experience in critical and resilient infrastructure, Lehrer brings expertise in high-performance, always-on facilities, advanced laboratory environments, critical operations hubs, high-rise, mixed-use, and corporate headquarters projects.
Lehrer joins Skender following leadership roles at Environmental Systems Design, Inc. (ESD) and Cannon Design, where he led large, diverse teams of engineers and oversaw complex, large-scale projects across the life sciences, high-tech, and mission-critical sectors. He created ESD’s life sciences business unit — leading the design of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology engineering for a series of complex, infrastructure-heavy, resilient assets.
A licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois and California, Lehrer has designed and implemented solutions for some of the industry’s most demanding environments. He has expertise in liquid cooling infrastructure — essential for AI-centric data centers.
Lehrer has worked closely with Skender for more than two decades. He has relationships within the team and a shared approach to collaborative problem-solving.
“Skender’s approach to mission-critical projects aligns perfectly with my own philosophy — prioritizing collaboration, risk mitigation, and speed to market while balancing performance with cost efficiency,” Lehrer said. “I couldn’t pass up the chance to help build a new and innovative team in this market.”
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“Andrew brings the engineer’s mindset with a high level of focus on risk mitigation, along with a deep respect for cost and speed of everything,” said Andy Halik, Senior Vice President, Skender. “His unique perspective can help Skender clients achieve tangible benefits through the preconstruction and construction process.”
Lehrer is an advisor, mentor, and industry thought leader, serving as a Washington University in St. Louis MEMS advisory board member, ASHRAE member, and former executive board member of ACE Mentor Chicago.
