Sarah Lesch
Facility Design Specialist
Sarah found her niche at the intersection of architecture, hospitality work and non-profit organizations. Before joining New Venture Advisors, she worked at one of Chicago’s largest Federally Qualified Health Centers, overseeing the design, construction and opening operations of a large community cafe and multispace conference center–creating everything from lighting plans to lunch menus. She had a hand in clinic renovations, organizational rebranding, cross-campus wayfinding overhauls, interior design and cooking the daily specials. Prior projects include hospitality and retail work in the Chicago loop, single- and multi-family housing in skyscrapers and in the suburbs, and the never-ending rehab of her family’s 1905 home. Ongoing passions include homeschooling, writing (children’s curriculum, recipes, very long emails) and thinking about what to cook next. A long-standing monthly cooking session at a local women’s shelter continues to underpin her understanding of the critical need for good food in all communities.
Sarah earned a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and enjoyed two summers of work-study in Italy. Her thesis project was the proposed design for a light-touch-on-the-earth kayaking center in the Hebrides. She loves all things water, and eagerly awaits the Lake Michigan open-water swimming season each summer. She never misses a chance to paddle board, kayak, swim or just admire water from the beach with her husband and three kids.
