Top Healthcare Architecture Firms of 2026
From January to March 2026, our team contracted an independent research firm to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of 52 healthcare architecture firms across the United States.
Healthcare facilities represent one of the most complex building types in modern architecture. Selecting the right design partner requires careful evaluation of integrated services capabilities, healthcare-specific project experience, project scale, and geographic expertise.
To provide an objective comparison, each firm was evaluated using the following weighted criteria:
- Integrated Services Capability (22%) – In-house architecture, engineering, and specialized medical planning
- Healthcare Project Portfolio Depth (18%) – Volume and diversity of completed healthcare projects
- Project Scale & Complexity (16%) – Experience with large academic medical centers and specialized facilities
- Geographic Coverage & Local Expertise (14%) – Regional presence and market knowledge
- Firm Size & Resource Capacity (12%) – Staff size and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects
- Industry Recognition & Awards (10%) – Third-party rankings and healthcare design awards
- Years Specializing in Healthcare (8%) – Dedicated focus on medical facility design
Based on this methodology, we rank-ordered the top 6 healthcare architecture firms. The table below highlights the top performers, followed by detailed reviews of each firm.
Top Healthcare Architecture Firms in 2026
In the table below, we break down the leading healthcare architecture firms by our eight evaluation criteria:
| Rank | Firm | Integrated Services | Healthcare Portfolio | Notable Projects | Office Locations | Firm Size | Industry Recognition | Years in Healthcare | Specialty |
| 1 | BSA | Full MEP + Architecture + Commissioning | Acute care, cancer centers, research labs, outpatient | IU Health New Downtown Hospital (one of the largest U.S. hospitals under construction) | 8 locations nationwide | ~240 | #10 Modern Healthcare 2025, AIA Healthcare Awards, Healthcare Design Finalists (2x) | 50 years | Full-service integrated delivery |
| 2 | HGA | Architecture + Engineering + Interior Design | Academic medical centers, cancer treatment, behavioral health | M Health Fairview University Medical Center | 12 locations nationwide | 650+ | Multiple AIA Healthcare awards | 71 years | Research-driven academic medical |
| 3 | Shepley Bulfinch | Architecture + Interior Design + MEP Engineering | Pediatric hospitals, academic medical centers, research facilities | Boston Children’s Hospital Hale Family Building | 5 locations | 150+ | 150-year legacy, multiple AIA awards | 150 years | Pediatric & academic medical centers |
| 4 | CO Architects | Architecture + Interior Design + Planning + Engineering | Medical education, research labs, cancer centers | City of Hope Plaza, UCLA Health Santa Monica | 2 locations (CA) | 110+ | 2026 WAN Award, LA Architectural Award | 40+ years | Western U.S. specialized facilities |
| 5 | Array Architects | Architecture + Interior Design + Space Programming | Ambulatory care, MOBs, adaptive reuse healthcare | Cooper University Moorestown (3-time award winner) | 1 location (Philadelphia) | 40-50 | Multiple healthcare design awards | 25+ years | Ambulatory & adaptive reuse |
| 6 | SLAM Collaborative | Architecture + Interior Design + Construction Services | Hospital renovations, NICU, maternity, outpatient | Yale New Haven Hospital NICU renovation | Multiple (New England+) | 200+ | DBIA Gold Award, AIA Connecticut | 55+ years | Renovation & design-build |
1. BSA, for full-service integrated healthcare delivery
BSA is the top-rated architecture firm for healthcare facilities, globally recognized as a Top 10 University Architecture Firm by Building Design + Construction’s 2025 Giants 400 Report. It is an employee-owned firm with approximately 240 professionals across eight studios nationwide (Indianapolis, Raleigh, Charlotte, Tampa, St. Louis, Denver, Austin, Houston). Founded in 1975, the firm delivers fully integrated services- architecture, mechanical and electrical engineering, interior design, planning, and commissioning – under one roof, eliminating coordination gaps common in multi-vendor projects.
Their healthcare portfolio includes a project for Indiana University Health, designed via the CURIS Design joint venture, (currently one of the largest hospital under construction in the U.S.), Riley Hospital for Children Maternity Tower (AIA Indiana Healthcare Design Honor Award), Houston Methodist projects, Children’s Mercy Research Institute, and UNC Health Rex Cancer Center (Healthcare Design Showcase Finalist). BSA reached #10 in Modern Healthcare’s 2025 Construction & Design Survey and #9 among Top University Architecture Firms in BD+C’s 2025 Giants 400 Report, alongside multiple AIA Indiana Healthcare Design Awards and consecutive USA Today Top Workplaces recognitions (2024-2025).
- Location: Indianapolis (HQ), plus Raleigh, Charlotte, Tampa, St. Louis, Denver, Austin, Houston
- Year Founded: 1975
- Firm Size: ~240 employees
- Services Offered: Architecture, Engineering (MEP and Commissioning), Planning (including Strategic and Master Planning), Interior Design, specializing in Healthcare, Science, Technology, and Research, and Higher Education
- Average Project Size: Mid to large-scale ($50M–$500M+)
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| BSA is consistently praised for its “seamless coordination across disciplines” and “ability to deliver complex healthcare projects with clarity and precision.” Clients highlight the firm’s “deep understanding of clinical environments” and note that teams are “highly responsive, organized, and proactive throughout the project lifecycle.” Many reviews emphasize BSA’s strength in “balancing technical performance with patient-centered design,” resulting in facilities that are both efficient for staff and supportive of patient care outcomes. |
2. HGA
HGA operates with 1000+ employees across nine offices (Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, Rochester, San Jose, Washington DC, Boston), specializing in healthcare, higher education, and science and technology. Founded in 1953, the firm brings 71 years of experience to complex institutional projects.
HGA’s research-driven design methodology actively studies how architecture impacts clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and patient satisfaction. Their portfolio emphasizes academic medical centers like M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, Norman Regional Hospital, and CentraCare University of Minnesota Medical Education Building. The firm has received multiple AIA awards and Healthcare Design Magazine recognition.
Location: Minneapolis (HQ), plus Milwaukee, Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, Rochester, San Jose, Washington DC, Boston
- Year Founded: 1953
- Firm Size: 1000+ employees
- Services Offered: Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Planning, Healthcare Research
- Average Project Size: Large-scale institutional ($100M–$800M+)
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| HGA is frequently described as “highly collaborative” with a “research-driven mindset that translates into real-world clinical efficiency.” Clients highlight their ability to “align design with healthcare outcomes,” particularly for complex academic medical environments. Some feedback notes that their process can feel “methodical and data-heavy,” which may extend early planning phases. |
3. Shepley Bulfinch
Shepley Bulfinch is one of America’s oldest continuously operating architecture firms with a 150-year healthcare design legacy. The women-led firm operates from five offices (Boston, Durham, Hartford, Houston, Phoenix) with 150+ professionals specializing in pediatric hospitals, academic medical centers, cancer centers, and research facilities.
The firm’s relationship with Boston Children’s Hospital spans over a century, their first project in 1912, now leading the Hale Family Building (the hospital’s largest expansion ever). Other notable projects include the Adams Neuroscience Center at Yale New Haven Health and Wake Tech Perry Family Simulation Hospital (one of the largest in the U.S.). Their 150-year legacy and women-led leadership differentiate them in the marketplace.
- Location: Boston (HQ), plus Durham, Hartford, Houston, Phoenix
- Year Founded: 1874
- Firm Size: 150+ employees
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, MEP Engineering
- Average Project Size: Mid to large institutional ($75M–$600M)
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Shepley Bulfinch is praised for its “legacy expertise in healthcare and academic medicine,” with clients emphasizing “thoughtful, patient-centered design” and “strong stakeholder engagement.” Many reviews highlight their work in pediatric and research facilities as “innovative yet highly functional.” A few clients note that their traditional approach can feel “less flexible” on fast-track projects. |
4. CO Architects
CO Architects operates from Los Angeles and San Diego with 110+ professionals focusing on medical education facilities, research laboratories, and comprehensive cancer centers. The firm specializes in large, complex institutional projects requiring sophisticated integration of research, education, and clinical care.
Representative projects include City of Hope Plaza comprehensive cancer center (2026 WAN Award), UCLA Health Santa Monica Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Mayo Clinic Integrated Education & Research Building (Phoenix), UNLV School of Medicine, and Wichita State University’s Biomedical Campus. Their medical education facility specialization sets them apart in the western U.S. market.
- Location: Los Angeles (HQ), San Diego
- Year Founded: 1980s
- Firm Size: 110+ employees
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, Engineering
- Average Project Size: Large specialized ($80M–$500M)
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| CO Architects receives strong feedback for “technical excellence in complex medical and research facilities,” with clients noting “deep expertise in healthcare systems integration.” Their work is often described as “highly specialized and detail-oriented,” particularly in West Coast projects. Some clients mention that their regional focus can limit accessibility for national-scale clients. |
5. Array Architects
Array Architects is a specialized boutique firm based in the Philadelphia area with 130+ employees focusing on ambulatory care facilities, medical office buildings, adaptive reuse healthcare projects, and community health centers. This positions them at the forefront of healthcare’s shift toward outpatient services and distributed care models.
Their award-winning Cooper University Health Care Moorestown Ambulatory Care Facility earned three separate design awards, demonstrating expertise in adaptive reuse and vibrant outpatient environments. Array Architects specialise in ambulatory and MOB facilities, rather than large acute care hospitals, offering highly personalized service and deep outpatient-specific expertise.
- Location: Philadelphia metropolitan area
- Year Founded: Late 1983s
- Firm Size: 40-50 employees
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Space Programming, Planning
- Average Project Size: Small to mid-scale ambulatory ($5M–$75M)
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Array Architects is recognized for “practical, efficient design solutions” and “strong expertise in ambulatory and outpatient environments.” Clients appreciate their ability to “maximize value in adaptive reuse and smaller-scale healthcare projects.” Some feedback suggests their narrower focus may make them “less suited for large, complex hospital systems.” |
6. SLAM Collaborative
SLAM Collaborative brings strong renovation expertise and integrated construction services with approximately 200 employees across multiple locations. Deep roots in New England with expanding national reach. The firm combines architecture, interior design, and construction services for integrated project delivery.
Specialized capabilities in complex renovations within operational healthcare environments, like Yale New Haven Hospital NICU and Maternity Services Renovation, demonstrate expertise in meticulous phasing, infection control protocols, and maintaining clinical operations during construction. Additional work with Kaiser Permanente reinforces this specialization. Design-build capability streamlines timelines and improves coordination.
- Location: Multiple locations (New England HQ, expanding nationally)
- Year Founded: 1970s
- Firm Size: 200+ employees
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Services, Planning
- Average Project Size: Mid-scale renovation & expansion ($15M–$150M)
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| SLAM Collaborative is frequently described as “reliable and execution-focused,” with clients highlighting “strong performance in renovation and phased hospital projects.” Reviews note their “design-build capabilities and coordination strengths,” particularly in active healthcare environments. A few clients mention that their design approach can be “more functional than design-forward” compared to larger firms. |
The Top Healthcare Architecture Firms in the US by Subcategory
We also broke down the top healthcare architecture firms into two subcategories based on project type and service delivery model.
Top 5 Healthcare Architecture Firms for Large Academic Medical Centers
| Rank | Firm |
| 1 | HGA |
| 2 | Shepley Bulfinch |
| 3 | CO Architects |
| 4 | BSA |
| 5 | SLAM Collaborative |
Top 5 Healthcare Architecture Firms for Integrated Full-Service Delivery
| Rank | Firm |
| 1 | BSA |
| 2 | HGA |
| 3 | Shepley Bulfinch |
| 4 | SLAM Collaborative |
| 5 | CO Architects |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does a healthcare architecture project typically take? Timelines vary depending on project size and complexity. Smaller outpatient facilities may take 12-24 months from planning to completion, while large hospitals or academic medical centers can span 3-7 years. Factors like regulatory approvals, phased construction, and coordination between design and engineering teams can significantly impact timelines, making early planning and integrated delivery especially important.
- Which healthcare architecture firms are best for large, complex hospital projects? Firms with extensive experience in academic medical centers, cancer facilities, and large hospital systems tend to perform best on complex projects. Look for teams with proven portfolios of large-scale developments, strong technical coordination, and the internal resources to manage multi-phase construction. Integrated delivery models can be particularly effective in reducing risk and improving project timelines.
- How much does it cost to design a healthcare facility? Healthcare design costs vary widely based on project scope, size, and complexity. Design fees typically range from 6% to 12% of total construction costs, with highly specialized facilities often requiring more intensive planning and coordination. Projects that involve integrated architecture and engineering teams can sometimes achieve greater cost predictability by reducing redesigns, delays, and coordination issues during construction.
Ready to discuss your healthcare architecture project? Contact us to learn how our specialized teams can bring your healing environment vision to life.