Creating Healthcare Campus Master Plans That Allow Movement and Respite
In a recent Healthcare Facilities Today article, Principal Andre Kamili, AIA, LEED AP, explores how healthcare campus planning can do more than accommodate future growth. Thoughtful master plans can shape how patients, families, staff, and visitors experience a healthcare environment, creating campuses that are easier to navigate, more flexible over time, and more supportive of well-being.
Hale Family Building, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA. Photo by Robert Benson.
Think of it like a chessboard. A major medical campus sits on a tight site with a limited number of squares. Every building occupies some of them, and a decision made for the convenience of the next move can leave an institution in checkmate three moves later. Sound planning keeps several moves in view at once.
The article argues that healthcare master planning should extend beyond siting future buildings and departments. Instead, campuses should be viewed as interconnected systems, with equal attention paid to entrances, corridors, outdoor spaces, and the transitional areas that shape daily experiences.
According to Andre, a building project asks where a building should go, while a master plan asks what future possibilities that building enables or limits. This broader perspective helps healthcare organizations protect flexibility and make decisions that support long-term growth.
As healthcare systems face increasing space constraints and evolving care models, the decisions made today will shape campus performance for decades to come. Successful master planning requires balancing immediate needs with long-term goals, ensuring that every investment contributes to a more resilient and adaptable healthcare environment.
Read the full article in Healthcare Facilities Today.
Emily Hooper
Director of Marketing, Associate
Emily leads brand and communications strategies across six physical and virtual studios.