Penny Houchens serves as Executive Vice President of Gresham Smith’s Healthcare market, where she leads the firm’s strategy to deliver innovative, research-driven design solutions that enhance the built environment for patients, caregivers and communities. With more than 30 years of healthcare design experience, Penny is known for her deep knowledge, empathetic leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing care for vulnerable populations.
Since joining Gresham Smith in 2004, Penny has played a pivotal role in shaping the growth of the firm’s healthcare practice. She has provided project management, medical planning and led design projects for organizations such as UF Health, Baptist Health and UC Health. Most recently, she served as Nashville Studio Design Leader, guiding multidisciplinary teams and mentoring a new generation of healthcare designers. She is especially recognized for her influential work on behavioral health and intellectual disabilities care environments, and her evidence-based, human-centered approach continues to set new benchmarks for inclusive, compassionate design.
Beyond the workplace, she is a committed advocate for women and families. She serves on the Executive Board of the American Heart Association, supports the Alzheimer’s Association, and was a founding member of the Nashville Women in Healthcare chapter. She also previously served on the Mercy Community Healthcare Advisory Board. In 2019, Penny was named a “Woman of Influence” by the Nashville Business Journal.
Penny holds a Bachelor of Science degree in interior design from Western Kentucky University and is credentialed by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). She is a LEED Accredited Professional and holds NCIDQ and Lean certifications.
