HKS at PDC 2026: Insights on Design Innovation, Optimization and Inclusion
HKS designers and researchers will lead a series of presentations on transformative health care design at the 2026 International Summit & Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design & Construction, March 8-11 in Houston. From evidence-based design and Lean strategies to code compliance, behavioral health and neuro-inclusive spaces, our experts will offer actionable insights to tackle today’s most pressing health care design challenges.
HKS Receives Leading Industry Honors
In addition to presenting at PDC Summit, HKS is receiving three key industry award.
- HKS’ work for the UAB Medical West Hospital in Bessemer, Alabama, is a 2026 Healthcare Environment Award winner. This award recognizes how design can improve safety, enhance experiences and increase organizational efficiency and improve outcomes. UAB Health Medical West Hospital is a modern, experience-centered facilities that enables new ways of delivering care for rural communities while exuding the southern hospitality the region is known for.
- UAB Medical West Hospital also won the 2026 American Society for Health Care Engineering Vista Award for New Construction. The Vista Awards recognize extraordinary teamwork and innovation in healthcare design and construction. This is HKS’ 13th Vista Award, the most of any architecture firm since the award’s inception in 1993.
- Children’s Health New Pediatric Campus in Dallas, Texas, is a Gold award winner for the 2026 Touchstone Awards. Presented by the Center for Health Design, the Touchstone Awards recognize exemplary use of an evidence-based design process in the build environment through projects and products that demonstrate exceptional achievements across the three touchstones of the EBD process: collaboration, evaluation and sharing.
Please join us for the following sessions at the PDC Summit:
March 8
Transforming Outcomes: Integrating Lean and EBD to Maximize Results
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM CT
Speakers: Andrea Sponsel, HKS Process Improvement Strategies Leader; Donna Deckard, Director of Strategic Projects, The Center for Health Design; Jeff O’Neill, Vice President of Plant Operations, RWJ Barnabas – RWJ University Hospital; Dr. Theresa Zborowsky, Registered Nurse, Senior Design Researcher, HGA
This interactive workshop will demonstrate how applying an Evidence-Based Design (EBD) process and a Lean methodology can enhance a project’s design and implementation.
Decoding the Codes: Navigating Health Care Facility Compliance from Design Through Occupancy
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT
Speakers: Tina Duncan, HKS Director of Code and Regulations; Leah Hummel, Senior Associate Director – Advocacy, American Society for Health Care Engineering; Henry Kosarzycki, Code Architect, Flad Architects
Health care facilities are complex environments governed by an extensive array of codes, standards and regulations. Proper adherence is critical to ensuring patient safety, operational efficiency and compliance with legal requirements. This session provides participants with an in-depth understanding of health care facility compliance, from design through survey.
March 9
The Impact of Design on Outcomes in Pediatric Psychiatric Inpatient Units: A Post-Occupancy Evaluation
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Speakers: Rutali Joshi, PhD, HKS Research Lead, Health; Martyna Falloni, HKS Sr. Medical Planner; Jennifer Bohn, Senior Architect/Planner | Planning, Design and Construction, Corewell Health
This session examines the urgent need for environments supporting integrated medical and psychiatric care for children in crisis, using a case study of a pediatric medical-psychiatric inpatient unit designed through an evidence-based process. Attendees will explore how design strategies such as visibility, spatial flexibility and residential aesthetics were evaluated through a Functional Performance Evaluation to assess their impact on care delivery, safety and patient dignity, offering practical insights for improving behavioral health environments.
Optimizing Emergency Departments Through Spatial Analytics and Design
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM CT
Speakers: Ethan Hopkins, HKS Medical Planner; Nikola Gjurchinoski, HKS Architect & Design Researcher; Colby Dearman, HKS Regional Practice Director, Health; Nicole Scotty, Division Director of Nursing, Emergency and Trauma Services, University of Florida Health Jacksonville; Sandra McDonald, Director of Hospital Safety and Emergency Preparedness, University of Florida Health Jacksonville
This session explores how visibility and spatial integration in emergency department (ED) layouts affect efficiency, safety and patient outcomes, through sharing a study that utilizes advanced spatial analytics. Learn actionable strategies for optimizing design to improve health, safety and workflow.
March 10
AIA\AAH: Codes Are Your Friend: Another Fishbowl Session
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM CT
Speakers: Tina Duncan, HKS Director of Code and Regulations; Jason Costello, Principal, Shepley Bulfinch; Chris Lunch, Sr. Principal – Vice President, Code Red Consultants; Rob Masters, Principal, Health Practice Leader, CannonDesign; Jeff O’Neill, Vice President of Plant Operations, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital; Theresa Harris, Principal, Director of Healthcare Planning, isgenuity
Bring your compliance items, code issues, varying interpretations and application questions for an open discussion. Items planned for discussion include exiting strategies, occupancy classification, door hardware and safety risk assessment.
Building for Tomorrow: A Blueprint for Healthcare Expansion
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT
Speakers: Marc Budaus, HKS Studio Practice Leader, Health; Andy Craigo, Director of Project Management, Baylor Scott & White Health; Eric Gribble, Project Executive, DPR Construction
This session examines Baylor Scott & White Health’s bold expansion into Frisco, Texas – one of the nation’s fastest-growing communities – with a 340,000-square-foot medical campus designed for flexibility, scalability and patient-centered care. Attendees will gain insights into leveraging strategic planning, Lean project delivery and stakeholder input to balance clinical needs, operational efficiency and a hospitality-inspired patient experience while aligning facilities with long-term system goals.
Acknowledging the Unspoken: Neuro-Inclusive Design in Oncology Care
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM CT
Speakers: Nupur Gupta, HKS Sr. Medical Planner; Eric Kutche, HKS Sr. Medical Planner; Melissa Levin, Senior Clinical Social Worker, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Indira Shenoy, Senior Manager, Quality & Equity, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
This session highlights the need for neuro-inclusive design in oncology care to address disparities faced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Using Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s innovative approach as a case study, it provides actionable strategies for creating equitable, supportive environments through interdisciplinary collaboration.
