Key Takeaways
- Andrea Springer has been appointed Chief Technology Officer of SSOE Group, based in Denver, to steer the firm’s digital transformation.
- She brings extensive AEC‑industry experience from leadership roles at CDM Smith and Stantec, where she directed digital engineering, technology innovation, and enterprise strategy.
- Springer’s expertise spans applied and emerging technologies, data analytics, AI/ML, automation, geospatial and visualization tools, and project information management systems.
- Her background as a registered architect and her interdisciplinary education (M.S. in Digital Technologies, M.F.A., B.A. in Architecture) blend design sensibility with technical leadership.
- SSOE leadership expects her to align technology initiatives with the firm’s strategic goals, creating measurable value for clients and teams through data‑driven, AI‑enhanced solutions.
- SSOE Group, an internationally ranked AEC firm with a 77‑year history, is recognized as a great workplace and serves high‑tech, manufacturing, healthcare, and building sectors across 40 countries.
Introduction and Announcement
In June 2026, SSOE Group announced the appointment of Andrea Springer as its new Chief Technology Officer. Springer will operate from the firm’s Denver office and assume responsibility for guiding SSOE’s technology strategy in support of its broader digital transformation agenda. The announcement highlights her deep expertise in digital strategy, innovation, and enterprise technology transformation, positioning her as a key driver for SSOE’s continued growth and strategic priorities. By placing a seasoned technology leader at the helm of its tech function, SSOE signals its commitment to embedding advanced digital capabilities across its architecture and engineering practice.
Andrea Springer’s Professional Background
Springer’s career is marked by progressive leadership roles that blend technology, business strategy, and client‑focused delivery. Prior to joining SSOE, she served as Vice President, Director of Digital Engineering Solutions at CDM Smith, where she oversaw the firm’s digital evolution and enterprise AEC strategy across multiple business units and geographic regions. Earlier, she held the title of Vice President, Director of Digital Technology and Innovation at Stantec, leading global teams that spanned business, practice, and IT functions. In both capacities, she championed the integration of technology, process, data, and people to advance digital delivery and improve project outcomes.
Leadership at CDM Smith
At CDM Smith, Springer was tasked with shaping a cohesive digital engineering vision that could be deployed consistently across the organization’s diverse practice areas. She directed initiatives ranging from the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) standards to the implementation of cloud‑based collaboration platforms. Her work emphasized the creation of reusable digital assets, the standardization of data workflows, and the cultivation of a culture that encourages experimentation with emerging tools such as generative design and reality capture. By aligning technology investments with business objectives, she helped CDM Smith enhance efficiency, reduce rework, and improve client satisfaction.
Innovation Leadership at Stantec
During her tenure at Stantec, Springer focused on driving innovation at the intersection of technology and design. She led cross‑functional teams tasked with exploring advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning applications for infrastructure projects. Her role included overseeing software development pipelines, establishing data governance frameworks, and fostering partnerships with technology vendors to pilot new solutions. Springer’s efforts at Stantec resulted in several flagship projects that demonstrated measurable gains in schedule predictability, cost control, and sustainability performance through data‑driven decision‑making.
Breadth of Technical Expertise
Springer’s expertise covers a wide spectrum of domains critical to modern AEC firms. She has deep knowledge of applied and emerging technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, digital twins, and augmented/virtual reality environments. Her background in data analytics and AI/ML enables her to translate raw project data into actionable insights, while her experience with automation and robotic process automation (RPA) streamlines repetitive tasks. Additionally, she is well‑versed in geospatial technologies, advanced visualization techniques, and project information management systems, all of which are essential for delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects at scale.
Alignment with SSOE’s Strategic Direction
In her new role, Springer will integrate enterprise technology strategy, digital transformation, data initiatives, and innovation efforts to ensure that SSOE’s technology investments are tightly coupled with the firm’s strategic priorities. She will work closely with leadership to identify high‑impact opportunities where technology can enhance design quality, accelerate delivery, and improve client experience. By fostering collaboration between IT, practice leaders, and business units, Springer aims to break down silos and create a unified digital ecosystem that supports SSOE’s ambition to deliver exceptional value across its diverse market segments.
Commentary from SSOE Leadership
Jeremy Woodgate, SSOE’s Chief Strategy Officer, praised Springer’s appointment, emphasizing her unique combination of strategic vision, industry experience, and practical leadership in digital transformation. Woodgate noted that her track record of building enterprise technology strategies and steering innovation within complex, matrixed organizations will be instrumental as SSOE expands its use of technology, data, and AI to create meaningful value for clients and internal teams. His endorsement underscores the confidence SSOE places in Springer’s ability to drive measurable outcomes from its technology investments.
Architectural and Creative Credentials
Beyond her technology leadership, Springer is a registered architect, a credential that informs her approach to digital solutions with a strong sense of design integrity. She has held leadership positions that married business strategy, technology advancement, and client‑focused delivery, allowing her to translate technical capabilities into tangible design benefits. Her academic background further enriches this perspective: she holds a Master of Science in Digital Technologies from the University of Michigan, a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design, and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Miami University. This blend of technical, artistic, and architectural education equips her to bridge the gap between creative vision and practical implementation.
Educational Qualifications and Continuous Learning
Springer’s formal education reflects a commitment to lifelong learning and interdisciplinary mastery. The M.S. in Digital Technologies provided her with a rigorous foundation in emerging tech trends, data science, and systems thinking. The M.F.A. from RISD honed her creative problem‑solving skills and visual communication abilities, while her B.A. in Architecture grounded her in the fundamentals of building design and spatial reasoning. Together, these qualifications enable her to evaluate technology options not only for their functional merits but also for their impact on user experience, aesthetics, and overall project quality.
Impact on SSOE’s Digital Transformation
With Springer at the helm of its technology function, SSOE is poised to accelerate its digital transformation journey. Her leadership is expected to drive the adoption of integrated data platforms that connect design, construction, and operations phases, facilitating real‑time decision‑making. Initiatives such as AI‑powered design optimization, automated clash detection, and advanced analytics for performance monitoring are likely to gain traction under her guidance. Moreover, her emphasis on cross‑functional collaboration will help ensure that technology initiatives are embraced by practitioners, leading to higher adoption rates and sustained improvements in productivity and project outcomes.
Overview of SSOE Group
Founded nearly eight decades ago, SSOE Group has grown into an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm renowned for delivering exceptional client value. Over its 77‑year history, the firm has cultivated a strong reputation for serving high‑tech and general manufacturing clients in sectors such as semiconductor, automotive, battery, food, chemical, and glass. In addition, SSOE provides forward‑thinking design for healthcare, corporate workplace, education, and judicial projects, with a portfolio spanning 40 countries. The firm’s commitment to excellence has been recognized through accolades including a “Great Workplace” designation by Great Place to Work®, a Fortune Best Workplace in Consulting & Professional Services™ honor, and inclusion among the “Best AEC Firms to Work For” by BD+C.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The appointment of Andrea Springer as Chief Technology Officer marks a pivotal moment for SSOE Group as it seeks to deepen its digital capabilities and reinforce its position as an innovative leader in the AEC industry. Springer’s extensive background in enterprise technology strategy, digital innovation, and architecture equips her to lead SSOE toward a future where data, AI, and emerging technologies are seamlessly integrated into every phase of project delivery. Her leadership promises to enhance the firm’s ability to create measurable value for clients, empower its teams, and sustain its trajectory of growth and excellence in an increasingly digital world.