Employee Spotlight: Lowry Insko, Project Manager

Meet Lowry Insko, a mechanical designer and project manager who specializes in mechanical and plumbing design for retail and aviation hospitality projects. One of the most interesting aspects of Lowry’s career journey is his experience across multiple engineering disciplines. He began his career as an electrical designer before transitioning into mechanical design and project management, giving him a unique perspective that is uncommon in the industry. Today, he contributes to a variety of projects, from retail spaces to airport dining and passenger experience environments, applying his broad technical knowledge to create thoughtful and effective designs.

What first sparked your interest in electrical design, and how did you decide to pursue this career path?

I knew from a fairly young age that I would end up in a technical career of some sort, but electrical always was the more appealing of the engineering sciences when I was looking at the coursework in college.

You began your career as an electrical designer and now work in both mechanical design and project management. How has working across multiple disciplines influenced the way you approach projects today?

I was told early on in my career with KLH that I will constantly be looking back on the work that I’ve done and seeing the pattern of growth evolve as my experience increases. Having knowledge of the other major trade disciplines we design has given valuable insight into that growth and definitely set up easier conversations with my team members over the years. It is always beneficial to understand the reason behind why certain process decisions are made, or when processes need to be used in specific situations.

What do you enjoy most about your role at KLH?

I really enjoy the time I get to spend with my coworkers solving problems internally and for our external clients. The growth opportunities we have along our journey are immense, and I am always looking for teachable moments to pass along to others.

KLH was recently ranked #7 among the nation’s largest restaurant engineering firms in BD+C’s 2025 Giants 400 Report. What has it been like contributing to projects in this specialized market?

I have been working on restaurant projects since I started as an electrical designer in 2013. You definitely get exposed to the nuance of code with the more technically challenging requirements needed for restaurant design. Working across all 50 states and their multiple jurisdictions has also brought a wealth of experience to our team that has been shared organically over my time with KLH.

You have also had the opportunity to work on airport projects. How is designing for an airport environment different from a more traditional retail space?

In some ways, it is a big change of pace related to the majority of the retail work that we complete. Airport projects take significantly more time due to the level of review required during the process. This gives an added benefit of ample coordination time between issuances so that we can be absolute with the intent of our design.

Can you share a bit about your involvement in projects like Asheville Regional Airport or Orlando International Airport, and what excites you about that work?

These are the first two airport projects I have been involved with from the project management side, so it has been interesting to take a more holistic approach to the projects. Working through the technical requirements, not just from an electrical standpoint but from a full MEP standpoint, has been very engaging and provided insight into how those interconnected systems are distributed throughout the building.

When working on large, high-traffic environments like airports, what are some key factors you keep in mind during the design process?

There are always multiple clients that we serve with our designs, from the customers supporting the brands, the employees of those brands, the brand owners, the airport itself, and our partners in the design; our work has impact far beyond the lines that we draw and words we type on our computers.

If you could instantly master any skill or talent, what would it be and why?

I would love to be an astrophysicist, so anything related to statistical analysis of large datasets would likely be high up on the list!

What is one item you can’t live without during the workday?

Most people that have worked with me for a decent period of time know that I am addicted to goldfish crackers. I love the fishes ‘cause their so delicious.