AHC Spring 2026 | Adaptive Care Models and Future-Ready Planning

Join the Architecture for Health Committee (AHC) for the annual AHC Spring Conference!

The AHC Spring Conference brings together healthcare design and construction professionals to explore strategies for shaping resilient, flexible, and community-focused healthcare environments. Sessions highlight approaches to navigating operational and technical challenges through collaborative design-build and virtual coordination, while minimizing disruption to active facilities. Participants will examine projects ranging from master planning for sustainable growth and data-driven service distribution to reimagining pediatric care within large medical centers. The conference also showcases integrated wellness hubs and renovations that enhance accessibility, wayfinding, and public engagement, illustrating how thoughtful design can improve patient experience, support evolving clinical models, and strengthen connections between healthcare facilities and their communities.

This conference includes a post-program tour by LMN and Walker Macy of a $52M progressive design build renovation of the UW Montlake Medical Center arrival area. The project includes the redesign of hospital entrances to increase wayfinding and access for people with disabilities, improves the safety and flow of foot, vehicle and bicycle traffic, and provides new public courtyard and garden areas. 

This program is presented by AIA Seattle’s Architecture for Health Committee.

Conference Sessions

Session 1 | Master Planning for Growth: Aligning Healthcare Facilities, Strategy, and Care 
As one of the nation’s fastest-growing health systems, Intermountain Health has expanded access while maintaining its nationally recognized quality. With 33 hospitals across eight states, Intermountain has integrated facility planning with system-wide strategy to optimize resources and enhance care delivery. This session explores how strategic master planning creates a roadmap for sustainable growth, aligning facility investments with system priorities. Jensen Partners, having led over 15 master plans for Intermountain, will share data-driven strategies for infrastructure assessment, market analysis, and service distribution to meet growth without compromising quality.

Session 2 | A Hospital Within a Hospital: Reimagining Pediatric Care in Kentucky
At the heart of UK HealthCare’s transformation lies a bold idea: How can a children’s hospital continue to thrive, and even improve, within the walls of a larger academic medical center—not as a tucked-away department, but as a fully realized entity with its own identity, purpose, and future?  Representatives from the Medical and Clinical Planning Team will share how this project re-imagined pediatric care on an existing campus.

Session 3 | Bridging Care and Community: A Flexible Model for Holistic Health Integration
The new 80,000 SF Hub at Snoqualmie Valley adapts the conventional outpatient model to integrate community wellness, prevention, and social connection alongside essential clinical services. The new integrated medical office building expands local access to family medicine, urgent care, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, retail pharmacy, and outpatient surgery —while also introducing wellness amenities rarely found in rural healthcare settings. By reshaping the traditional clinical model to include integrated wellness programming, the Hub will be a flexible, future ready resource that supports prevention, improves community resilience, and elevates the overall health of the growing Snoqualmie Valley population.

Session 4 | Fred Hutch Cancer Center: G2 Imaging Renovation
This presentation will discuss how close partnerships can navigate evolving design conditions, technical complexity, and operational constraints. The approach included early investigative scanning, phased clash detection, and virtual coordination to proactively address risk, minimize disruption to the active facility, and control costs. The project embodied DBIA principles through early engagement and shared problem-solving, contributing to a succesful delivery of a high-performing healthcare project.

Session 5 | Design Presentation: UW Montlake Medical Center
A design presentation and tour by LMN and Walker Macy of a $52M progressive design build renovation of the UW Montlake Medical Center arrival area. The project includes the redesign of hospital entrances to increase wayfinding and access for people with disabilities, improves the safety and flow of foot, vehicle and bicycle traffic, and provides new public courtyard and garden areas.  Technically complex and fast-paced, the project benefited from a progressive design-build delivery method, which allowed building systems analysis, site investigation, design, constructability, and construction phasing to be studied simultaneously. Discussion will focus on the development of the project, design drivers that were unique to the healthcare setting, and how multiple design disciplines integrated their work. Tour to follow, sign up day-of at registration.

*Speakers to be announced. All sessions and speakers subject to change.

Learning Objectives

Analyze how population growth, market dynamics, and patient needs influence healthcare master planning, facility investment, and service distribution across systems and locations.
Evaluate design strategies that support flexible care environments, including shared adult and pediatric spaces, evolving clinical workflows, and interdisciplinary collaboration during the design process.
Assess design and construction approaches for renovating complex healthcare facilities while maintaining active clinical operations, including phasing, infection control, structural coordination, and MEP system integration.
Apply planning and design strategies that strengthen connections between healthcare facilities and their communities through accessible arrival environments, flexible programming, and integrated wellness and support services.

Cost

Includes continuing education credit (6 LU/ HSW)
+ light breakfast and lunch + applicable live presentation tax

$208 AIA Member/Corporate Allied Partner (CAP)/Allied Member
$208 Government
$138 Associate Member
$72 Student/Emeritus
$332 Non-Member

REGISTER

Early Bird Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026. After this time, the price increases 15%.
Registration Deadline: Friday, May 8, 5:00pm PT.

Reduced rate options are available! Please submit the Continuing Education Scholarship / Reduced Rate Request form via email by Friday, May 1, 5:00PM PT.

Learn more about our program pricing, the member ticket rate, and other benefits associated with membership. Explore the other major education programs we offer.

Venue

Venue: The spring conference will be held at the Oak Hall Denny Room on the University of Washington Campus. Learn more about accessibility at UW.
Transportation: We encourage attendees to take advantage of public transit options and plan your trip. Parking is available at the onsite pay-to-park parking lot. Alternatively, you can find street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Learn more about getting to Oak Hall.

Accessibility

Learn more about accessibility at UW.
Presenter files and other program materials (as applicable) will be available on the password-protected attendee resources page at least 1-2 business days before the program. The password will be sent in follow-up email communications to all registered attendees.
We encourage speakers to create accessible presentations to ensure attendees can fully engage with the session content.

If you have accessibility needs for this program, please note them in your registration form or contact Programs Coordinator, Pamela Tagata. You can reach Pamela via email at pamelat@aiaseattle.org or via phone at 206-957-1922. Please reach out by April 24. We will do our best to support any needs conveyed after this date.