A Panel of Experts Discusses Healthcare Design: Today’s Demands & Future Shifts

Atmosphere assembled a panel of design leaders from across the country to unpack today’s demands and future shifts in healthcare design.

 

Few segments of the market are transforming at the speed of healthcare. Today’s leading healthcare systems are navigating the forces shaping both current demands and the future of how care is delivered and experienced — by patients and clinicians alike.

To better understand what’s shaping the industry, we asked our panel…What challenges are healthcare designers working to solve?

Across hospital systems, architectural and design firms, and manufacturing and distribution partners, there is a shared effort to address the primary drivers of disruption:

• Rising healthcare costs
• Staff burnout
• Demographic shifts
• Rapidly evolving technologies
• Expanding access to care

With so many competing priorities, the question becomes: how do you prioritize? Where can risk be mitigated — while still making room for progress? Design alone cannot solve every challenge facing today’s healthcare environments. However, physical space plays a quiet but powerful role in shaping how care is delivered, experienced, and sustained.

Here’s how our panel of designers responded…

Jennifer Wilcynski was a guest speaker and panelist at the 2025 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo on the future of healthcare and has the distinction of being IIDA’s first cohort to become a Certified Design Futurist. “It is critical that we create a design framework that takes into account the evidence we have today and use that information to design towards the future.” Clinicians, particularly nurses, are struggling with burnout. The changing landscape of how and where care is delivered, as well as incorporating future technologies, security, and designing for neurodivergence top her list.

“These hospital systems are operating on slim margins — 1-3% so design is directly affected. The built environment can be a powerful influence on healing and providing care. We have to accomplish a great deal for patients, clinicians, families and stakeholders with the resources we are given.”

AI will soon “touch everything” says Jennifer. Robotics, telemedicine and less manual  documentation will bring huge change. “It has the potential to “humanize” medicine if we can eliminate the laptop as an obstacle between the clinician and the patient in-person and strengthen connections that are virtual through enhanced technology.” Jennifer calls her work “mission-driven” and each client “a passion project.”

“It’s about the beautiful connection that comes from synthesizing evidence and data with creativity.”

 

Scott Steffes describes healthcare design as “chasing after the future — and it’s fascinating.” He lists finances, sustainability, flexibility, staff support and AI as the top concerns of healthcare clients.

“Cost is always top of mind but weighted differently depending upon the client. Asking questions and setting priorities is crucial.” He cites the ongoing struggle to balance cost, high performance and sustainability.

“We are building 20-year hospitals, and those competing priorities don’t always go hand in hand. Since we are building today for a tomorrow that is unpredictable, flexibility is key and every square foot matters.”

Scott adds that health systems are evolving from focusing primarily on the patient, to addressing burnout and staff support as well. “Spaces for staff don’t drive revenue in the short term, but we are having more discussions centered on the long term benefits of investing in attraction and retention.”

The technology piece is a major consideration and in constant motion. “AI is in its infancy but is already challenging the relationship with design. It is opening our eyes to efficiencies, opportunities and exploration.”

He stressed that while robotics in surgery have become more accepted for certain procedures, their future proliferation will include working in cafes, supplies and drug dispensing — even “walk-through” biometric screening. “It will be interesting to see the reaction of patients less familiar with digital tools mingling with robots when many don’t even like digital check in. They prefer face to face interactions.”

Alicia McQueen points to the unique intensity of healthcare design, noting that it differs significantly from other market sectors. The complexity, she explains, stems from designing for a wide range of users—both internal and external.

“Designing healthcare spaces demands an intensity far different than any other market sector,”

“There are people needing care, families supporting them, and those at the front lines delivering it.” While she agrees budget is at the top of the list, working in the southwest puts the spotlight on how and where care is delivered. “In New Mexico the reality is getting care to the people versus people to healthcare.”

Nationwide, the research shows value-based care (where providers are paid for outcomes, not volume) is gaining ground. Concierge medicine is going mainstream, and retail giants are entering the mix. These changes promise more access and personalization, but they also risk leaving some people behind if not designed thoughtfully. Care is becoming more distributed, showing up in homes, retail clinics, and micro-hospitals instead of one large campus.

A recent project Alicia worked on in northern Arizona was specifically designed to meet the needs of American Indian and Alaskan Native populations of the area shining the light on “access for those in rural and remote areas.” She describes the project as a modern, technologically advanced facility with enough space and staff to provide an expanded level of health care services, three hours away from a major trauma hospital.

“The project scope included primary care, behavioral health, telemedicine, pediatrics, pharmacy service, ophthalmology, dental services, emergency medical and traditional healing. We are also constructing one and two bedroom furnished apartments and single family housing adjacent to the facility for both long and short term stays for clinicians, keeping everyone onsite.”

In her role as 2024-2025 President of the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID), Megan McNally served alongside national leaders in healthcare interior design advocating for the importance of the Certified Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID) credential and experience required to successfully design complex healthcare environments.

She believes her role in healthcare design is incredibly meaningful. “You are impacting people during their most vulnerable health events and getting the opportunity to positively influence outcomes and those providing the care.”

“Healthcare systems are strained by increasing burnout and challenges with clinician attraction and retention. Design has the power to counter this trend by shaping workplaces that value staff well-being and provide spaces for collaboration, concentration and respite.”

Megan notes that neuro-inclusive design is a rapidly emerging priority and that there’s “no one-size-fits-all approach. Because people process environments differently — whether neurodivergent or aging — designing for diverse cognitive and sensory needs leads to spaces that feel more intuitive, supportive and accessible for everyone.”

The 2025 Healthcare Design Conference & Expo was held in Kansas City and was attended by hundreds of interior designers, architects, end users, distributors and manufacturers. Steelcase, widely known for their research on the relationship between healthcare and the built environment, was prominently featured.

Their message was ‘Supporting the Work of Care.’ They believe that experiences of care begin with more caring spaces. “More than ever, we understand that intentional, human-centered design can have a positive effect on healthcare experiences and outcomes for everyone involved.”

We asked our panel… what ways can design support both patients and clinicians?

The panel emphasized several areas where design can have an enormous impact:

• Respite rooms/areas for clinicians
• Choice and control for patients
• Designing for neuroinclusivity

Supporting Clinicians Through Environment

“I believe to optimize patient care, you must take care of the staff. Data shows less burnout and better staff retention when active and quiet resilience rooms are provided.”

Alicia McQueen emphasized the value of restorative environments, including healing gardens, biophilic elements, and natural light. She also highlighted the role of tunable lighting and digital artwork in providing positive distraction for both patients and staff.

“Healing gardens, biophilia, and natural light offer soothing environments and contribute to staff and patient wellbeing. We have provided some positive patient distraction with digital artwork and tunable lighting.”

Megan McNally agrees that access to daylight and outdoors are critical elements for caregivers.

“Areas that have historically not received a lot of design dollars are now specifically highlighted to support employee health, wellbeing, and choice like break rooms, physician lounges, and space designated for movement (yoga, walking, virtual classes) and rest.”

Designing for Patients and Families

All panelists commented on the importance of giving dignity back to patients by giving them choice and control over things like access to power, lighting, temperature, and a variety of settings for their comfort and convenience.

Scott Steffes mentioned psychological influencers such as parking, way finding, and signage.

“It’s important that we make things easy for the patient and their families by designing for simplicity and intuitiveness while they are navigating through these large, unfamiliar institutions.”

Megan notes designing environments that support families is equally important as designing for patients. Examples are dedicated sleep rooms and flexible lounges for gatherings and education  in the NICU and comfortable seating and access to technology for those supporting their loved ones during caner care infusions that sometimes take hours to administer.

Expanding Design Through Neuroinclusivity

Designing for neuroinclusivity was a key point of discussion among our designers. They defined the term as encompassing not only those who are neurodivergent, but also the aging population and those with cognitive impairments.

Alicia considers patient’s mobility, visual, hearing, and cognition.

Megan underscored the importance of offering a variety of settings for sensory processing making the environment equitable for all types of patients, families and clinicians. Her team at Ryan Companies recently completed a “dementia-friendly” heart center. The project included:

• High contrast between walls and floors
• Large-scale graphics and saturated color at decision points
• Continuous handrails and accessible seating

These strategies act as visual and physical cues that support navigation, safety, and independence.

“In designing for the benefit of our older adult population, you can cover almost everyone.”

The panel closed with a discussion on evolving care needs and rising demand for specialized environments.

Scott pointed to increased focus on cancer care, senior living, and geriatrics, along with continued demand in behavioral health.

He also noted a growing need for design solutions that prioritize both patient and clinician safety, reflecting broader shifts in healthcare delivery and infrastructure priorities.

“Behavioral health continues to be a critical specialty need along with increased demand for products that guard patient and clinician safety.”

To better understand what’s shaping the industry, we asked our panel, what product criteria are shaping their decisions across clinical and patient-facing spaces?

Performance Comes First

For Scott Steffes, product performance often takes precedence over every other criteria.

“One of my clients told me he would rather have a facility with a 7 in design and a 10 in performance than the other way around. That statement has stayed with me as a reminder of what longevity really means in healthcare environments.”

Although decisions are heavily performance-based, Scott is always looking to strike a balance in sustainability, wellbeing and life cycle costs. One way this balance plays out with respect to product criteria is in waiting rooms.

“Giving people a choice in seating as well as access to power has become a key component in the overall experience of patients and their families.”

Designing for Durability Without Sacrificing Comfort

Alicia McQueen also prefers that waiting area furniture offer a “family” of seating for a consistent aesthetic and include options for a variety of demographics.

While echoing the importance of performance, she adds the issue of cleanability.

She pointed to big improvements from textile manufacturers in providing more aesthetic options that still satisfy the need for antimicrobial and bleach-cleanable surfaces, highlighting that still, many owners are wary about both performance and maintenance protocol when introducing these newer standards.

“Warm, residential-like finishes can create a soothing environment, but it’s difficult to convince owners to adopt fabrics with a softer hand — even if they are tested, versus continuing to use vinyl. These are legitimate concerns because it will be years before the next renovation.”

The importance of specifying task seating that can withstand continuous use in clinical environments was also stressed.

“These are used 24/7 by clinicians. Before I recommend any seating, I’m interested in all the parts and pieces. What is field replaceable? We cannot have extended downtime in a hospital setting.”

Flexibility Is Becoming Standard

Performance and maintenance were also on Megan McNally’s list of product criteria, but she adds ergonomics and flexibility as elements she stresses to clients.

“Height adjustability has become the norm in FF&E packages. Flexibility is key with a kit of parts that gives the end user options to morph their spaces as needs change.”

This adaptability supports evolving workflows, staffing needs, and future technology integration while helping organizations reduce long-term renovation costs.

Megan also highlighted the trend toward “hospitality-infused” healthcare environments, and explains,

“There is increased competition between healthcare systems, and they all understand they are competing to differentiate their environment in providing and receiving care.”

As a result, designers are specifying products and finishes that create warmer, less institutional spaces for both patients and staff.

Digital Innovation Is Rapidly Reshaping Healthcare

Technology also emerged as a major influence on product criteria and space planning as more innovative products are hitting the market.

As AI continues to integrate into healthcare environments, Jennifer Wilcynski notes telemedicine introduces entirely new layers of considerations for healthcare designers.

“Designing for hybrid interactions is relatively new and we are just scratching the surface. Technology products for telehealth rooms are more prevalent than ever.”

Jennifer is also a proponent of the growing interest in clinician “pods” for privacy, focus, and restorative downtime during demanding shifts.

Beyond patient care spaces, technology is also transforming the design process itself.

Alicia makes a good point about the benefits of technology in the design development phase when communicating design ideas and gaining consensus with decision makers.

“Technology advancements in 3D visualization is huge. Virtual reality manages expectations and improves communication so there are fewer surprises and change orders. We can lean into what the furniture can do to support the design vision and offer options.”

Megan agrees, underscoring what’s essential as healthcare delivery models continue to evolve rapidly.

“Flexibility and adaptability are paramount in future proofing healthcare environments where technology, processes, and delivery of care are changing rapidly in order to mitigate future costs.”

The Common Thread: Long-Term Adaptability

Across every discussion point, one theme remained clear: healthcare designers are planning for change.

Today’s product decisions must support performance and maintenance needs in the present while remaining flexible enough to adapt to future technologies, workflows, and patient expectations.

Clinician burnout, evolving care delivery models, rapid technology integration, sustainability goals, and budget pressures are reshaping how healthcare environments are planned and delivered. Addressing those challenges requires more than good design. It requires strong partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem.

We asked our panel, what advice can you provide on the importance of partnerships?

Why Collaboration Matters More Than Ever

Across every perspective, one message was consistent: no one discipline can solve today’s healthcare challenges alone.

“No one individual is the expert. Product selection is overwhelming. I use my trusted resources and partner with dealers and manufacturers. I leverage their expertise with regard to furniture, fabrics and finishes, casework and modular walls. It’s the best way to serve my clients.”