Gresham Smith is proud to announce that members of the firm’s Healthcare market will speak at the 2025 Innovatrix Healthcare Facility Design and Build Summit, taking place November 4–5 in Nashville, Tennessee. Senior Vice President of Advisory Services Doug Spies, AIA, and Healthcare Market Design Leader Chris Hoal, AIA, will share their expertise on pressing issues in healthcare facility design, including the critical role of safety in emergency care environments and the strategies necessary to navigate the challenges of modern healthcare construction.
See below for more information on the presentations:
Safety & Security in the Emergency Department – Designing for Care Delivery in Critical Environments
Doug Spies will address the importance of designing emergency departments as safe, secure, and operationally resilient environments. Drawing from real-world examples and current best practices, Doug will discuss how strategic planning and layered design can protect patients, staff, and visitors. Topics include:
- Front line of the battle zone: The ED is the front door to the hospital and the point of entry for many bad actors
- Layering is Key: Layering of physical barriers, safety and technology must all work in concert to protect the patients, staff and visitors from harms’ way
- Escape!: Prevention is not the only means of maintaining safety, understanding escape routes and access control becomes key
Building for the Future: Navigating Healthcare Construction Challenges
Chris Hoal will participate in a panel discussion focused on the future of healthcare facilities and the construction strategies essential for long-term success. The conversation will explore:
- Designing adaptable spaces to accommodate evolving healthcare technologies
- Sustainability efforts in healthcare construction for long term impact
- Cost-effective solutions for high-quality healthcare facility construction
- Workforce management strategies to meet the demand for skilled labor
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in optimizing renewable energy storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, and grid stability
