Best Healthcare Architecture Firms in Austin of 2026
Between January and March 2026, our team contracted an independent research firm to conduct research of healthcare architecture firms serving the Austin market. The research team evaluated 7 leading firms using the following weighted criteria:
- Healthcare Project Portfolio Strength (27%) – Evaluates the scale, complexity, and relevance of completed healthcare projects, with emphasis on hospitals and specialized medical facilities.
- Evidence-Based Design Expertise (20%) – Assesses the firm’s use of research-driven design principles, supported by certifications, thought leadership, and outcome-focused healthcare projects.
- Integrated Services (A/E/P + Interior Design) (20%) – Measures the firm’s ability to deliver architecture, engineering, planning, and interiors in-house for better coordination and efficiency.
- Client Satisfaction & Reputation (20%) – Reflects overall client feedback, testimonials, and market perception of the firm’s performance and reliability.
- Healthcare Awards & Industry Recognition (13%) – Considers recognition from respected industry organizations as validation of design excellence and innovation in healthcare projects.
Using this ranking methodology, firms were rank-ordered to identify the top performers. The table below highlights the highest-ranking healthcare design firms nationally, followed by detailed reviews of each.
Best Healthcare Architecture Firms in Austin of 2026
The table below breaks down how each firm performs across the five evaluation criteria:
| Rank | Firm | Client Satisfaction | Healthcare Portfolio | Evidence-Based Design | Integrated Services | Awards & Recognition | Specialty |
| 1 | BSA | 4.8/5.0 | Acute care hospitals, cancer centers, research labs, outpatient facilities, children’s hospitals, medical education | Strong: Explicit EBD methodology, post-occupancy evaluation research, outcome-based design publications | Full MEP + Architecture + Interior Design + Planning + Commissioning | National Leader (#10 Modern Healthcare in 2025) | Integrated A/E/P Healthcare Design |
| 2 | Kirksey | 4.6/5.0 | Medical/psychiatric hospitals, MOBs, outpatient facilities, cancer centers, ASCs, nursing schools | Strong: Evidence-based design practice with peer-reviewed research, LEED healthcare portfolio | Architecture + Interior Design + Sustainability | Regional Recognition (AIA, IIDA, USGBC) | Evidence-Based Healthcare |
| 3 | CO Architects | 4.3/5.0 | Academic medical centers, health sciences education, research hospitals, teaching facilities | Strong: Evidence-based healthcare environments with performance impact research | Architecture + Planning | National Recognition | Academic Medical Centers |
| 4 | BGK Architects | 4.5/5.0 | Health sciences education, simulation labs, clinic facilities, nursing schools | Moderate: Healthcare focus with sustainable design emphasis, limited EBD documentation | Architecture + Interior Design + Planning | Regional Awards (Austin Energy Green Building) | Health Sciences Education |
| 5 | Corgan | 4.1/5.0 | Behavioral health hospitals, medical office buildings, ambulatory surgery centers, academic medical centers | Moderate: Healthcare projects with design innovation, limited public EBD framework | Architecture + Interior Design + Planning | National Recognition (#7 Top 300 Firms in 2025) | Behavioral Health Design |
| 6 | Method Architecture | 4.4/5.0 | Medical office buildings, private practice spaces, dental clinics, assisted living | Moderate: Patient-centered design approach, wellness-oriented focus | Architecture + Interior Design | Local Awards (#19 ABJ Interior Design in 2025) | Patient-Centered Outpatient |
| 7 | KGA Architecture | 4.2/5.0 | Medical office buildings, ambulatory surgery centers, specialty clinics, tenant improvements | Limited: Healthcare projects without clear EBD framework or outcomes documentation | Architecture + Interior Design | Regional Recognition | Medical Office Buildings |
1. BSA, for Integrated Healthcare Design Excellence
BSA stands as Austin’s premier healthcare architecture firm, delivering comprehensive design solutions that transform how people heal, learn, and discover. The firm’s distinguishing characteristic is its fully integrated model, which eliminates coordination gaps that typically plague healthcare construction projects.
Their portfolio spans major academic medical centers, specialized hospitals, cancer centers, and research facilities totaling millions of square feet across healthcare, higher education, and discovery environments. With dedicated research on post-occupancy evaluations and outcome-based design, BSA demonstrates commitment beyond building delivery, measuring how spaces actually impact patient satisfaction, staff efficiency, and clinical results.
- Average Review Score: 4.8/5.0
- 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
- Notable Healthcare Projects:
- IU Health New Downtown Hospital
- Children’s Mercy Research Institute
- UCHealth Greeley Hospital
| Summary of Online Reviews: |
| Reviewers consistently praise BSA for being “truly innovative and inspiring” in their healthcare design work, with employees and clients highlighting the firm’s “collaborative” culture and “evidence-based” approach to complex medical facilities. Common themes include strong project leadership, integrated team coordination, and commitment to measurable outcomes. |
2. Kirksey, for Evidence-Based Healthcare Architecture
Kirksey Architecture has established itself as a major healthcare design force across Texas, with offices in Houston, Austin, and Dallas. The firm embraces evidence-based design principles as a foundational practice, conducting ongoing research and continuing education to provide solutions that give clients competitive advantages while promoting patient healing.
Kirksey’s healthcare portfolio demonstrates versatility across the care continuum. Their approach prioritizes patient-centric environments that encourage healing while streamlining the caregiving experience for clinicians.
- Average Review Score: 4.6/5.0
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Master Planning, Healthcare Strategic Planning, LEED/Sustainability Design
- Notable Healthcare Projects:
- Houston Premier Surgery Center
- Kelsey Seybold Multi-Campus Capitol Expansion
- Legacy Community Health, Fifth Ward Clinic in Houston, Texas
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients and industry observers describe Kirksey as delivering “innovative and efficient healthcare spaces” with “patient-centered” design philosophy, noting the firm’s depth of experience across diverse facility types. The team is recognized for strong client communication and collaborative stakeholder engagement throughout complex projects. Some reviewers note that Kirksey’s multi-office structure occasionally requires “additional coordination” compared to firms offering in-house engineering services. |
3. CO Architects, for Academic Medical Center Excellence
CO Architects, based in Los Angeles, has built a national reputation for large-scale, complex institutional projects with particular strength in academic medical centers and health sciences education facilities.
While not Austin-based, CO Architects has completed significant projects for the University of Texas system, demonstrating their capability to deliver transformative facilities in the Texas market. The firm specializes in designing efficient, evidence-based healthcare environments that enhance human interaction, support caregivers, and produce positive patient outcomes.
- Average Review Score: 4.3/5.0
- Services Offered: Architecture, Planning, Programming, Health Sciences Education Design, Research Facility Design
- Notable Healthcare Projects:
- University of Kansas Medical Center Health Education Building
- Charles R. Drew University Health Professions Education Building
- Hackerman Building for College of Natural Sciences in Austin, Texas
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Industry reviews highlight CO Architects’ “efficient, evidence-based environments” and deep understanding of “complex institutional” requirements, particularly in academic settings where multiple stakeholders must be balanced. Clients appreciate the firm’s sophisticated approach to spatial planning and their track record with major university systems. The primary criticism centers on their geographic distance from Austin, which can require additional travel coordination compared to local firms. |
4. BGK Architects, for Austin-Focused Health Sciences
BGK Architects (Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek) has served the Austin and Central Texas region since founder Jay Barnes, FAIA, established the practice in 1985. As a HUB-certified, locally-owned firm, BGK brings an intimate understanding of Austin’s building environment, regulatory landscape, and institutional relationships.
The firm has carved out a strong niche in health sciences and workforce training facilities, with notable projects including collaborations on Central Health facilities and multiple health sciences simulation labs for Austin Community College.
- Average Review Score: 4.5/5.0
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, Sustainability Design, Workplace Design
- Notable Healthcare Projects:
- Central Health Administrative Offices & Central Clinic
- ACC Highland Phase II Health Sciences Simulation Skills Lab
- Texas State University Willow Hall
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients consistently praise BGK for “visionary designers” with strong “community-minded” values and deep Austin market knowledge. The firm is recognized for collaborative stakeholder engagement and successful navigation of complex public-sector projects. Some reviewers note that BGK’s healthcare experience concentrates more in “academic/training facilities” than acute care hospitals, which may limit their competitiveness for large clinical projects. |
5. Corgan, for Comprehensive Multi-Market Healthcare
Corgan stands as one of the nation’s largest and most established architecture firms, founded in Dallas in 1938. With offices across the country including Austin, Corgan brings nearly 90 years of design experience and substantial resources to complex healthcare projects.
The firm’s healthcare practice spans the full care continuum, from major academic medical centers to behavioral health facilities, laboratories, ambulatory surgery centers, and medical office buildings.
- Average Review Score: 4.1/5.0
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, Branded Environments, Workplace Strategy
- Notable Healthcare Projects:
- HCA Healthcare Behavioral Health Prototype & Hospitals
- The Behavior Exchange Prosper
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Reviewers describe Corgan as a “forward-looking” firm creating “elegant” healthcare environments with particular strength in behavioral health and master planning. The firm is recognized for design innovation and strong project leadership. Critiques occasionally mention that “Corgan’s large size can lead to variability in service levels” depending on which studio and team handles the project. |
6. Method Architecture, for Patient-Centered Outpatient Design
Method Architecture operates from offices in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, positioning themselves as Texas architecture and interior design specialists. While the firm serves multiple sectors, their healthcare practice focuses on patient-centered outpatient facilities – medical offices, private practice spaces, dental clinics, and assisted living centers.
Method’s approach prioritizes creating compassionate, functional environments that enhance the patient care experience while maximizing efficiency for practitioners.
- Average Review Score: 4.4/5.0
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Medical Office Design, Assisted Living Design, Healthcare Branding
- Notable Healthcare Projects:
- Easton Park Medical Offices in Austin, Texas
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients highlight Method’s “patient-centered approach” and ability to create “compassionate and functional environments” tailored to specific practice needs. The firm receives praise for collaborative client relationships and understanding of medical practice operations. Some reviewers note that Method’s healthcare experience is “narrower than full-service hospital architects,” limiting their competitiveness for large institutional projects. |
7. KGA Architecture, for Medical Office Building Design
KGA Architecture, maintaining offices in Las Vegas and Austin, brings national healthcare design experience to the Texas market. The firm’s portfolio includes hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, medical office buildings, and specialty clinics across multiple states.
The firm positions itself as award-winning designers focused on creating healthcare spaces that enhance people’s lives while meeting operational and financial objectives.
KGA’s healthcare practice demonstrates particular strength in medical office buildings and ambulatory surgery centers and, specifically, facility types that require careful attention to circulation, patient privacy, and clinical efficiency while typically operating on tighter budgets than major hospitals.
- Average Review Score: 4.2/5.0
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Medical Office Design, Ambulatory Surgery Center Design, Healthcare Master Planning
- Notable Healthcare Projects:
- Austin Regional Clinic tenant improvements and medical office projects
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Industry profiles describe KGA as delivering “award-winning” healthcare facilities with particular success in medical office buildings and specialty clinics. Clients appreciate the firm’s attention to operational efficiency and budget management. Some reviewers note that KGA’s primary Las Vegas base can “create communication challenges for Austin projects compared to fully local firms.” |
The Top Healthcare Architecture Firms in Austin by Specialty
We also broke down the top firms into three subcategories based on specialty areas that healthcare developers and administrators commonly prioritize. Firms may rank higher in specific categories than their overall position based on demonstrated expertise in that niche.
Best for Large Hospital & Medical Center Projects
| Firm | Specialty |
| BSA Design | Full-service integrated design for complex hospital expansions, new medical centers, and 2.6M SF acute care facilities |
| LEO A DALY | Academic medical centers and teaching hospitals with research integration |
| ESa | Hospital planning and master planning across multiple facility types with 5M+ SF designed |
| Array Architects | Large health system projects with multi-phase delivery and national resources |
| BWBR | Regional hospitals and medical centers with operational efficiency focus |
Best for Outpatient & Medical Office Development
| Firm | Specialty |
| BSA Design | Comprehensive ambulatory care centers, outpatient facilities, and adaptive reuse projects |
| Method Architecture | Patient-centered medical office buildings and private practice design |
| KGA Architecture | Medical office buildings and ambulatory surgery centers with budget efficiency |
| Kirksey | Multi-specialty clinics and outpatient imaging centers with evidence-based design |
| Corgan | Medical office buildings integrated with health system campuses |
Best for Healthcare Education & Research Facilities
| Firm | Specialty |
| BSA Design | Academic health sciences buildings, research institutes (400,476 SF pediatric research facility), and medical education |
| BGK Architects | Health sciences simulation labs, nursing education facilities, and Central Texas healthcare workforce training |
| CO Architects | Medical school and health sciences research buildings with interprofessional design |
| Kirksey | Nursing schools and clinical training facilities across Texas |
| Corgan | Healthcare workforce training centers and educational facility design |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need a healthcare architecture firm with local Austin experience? Local experience can be valuable for navigating permitting processes, zoning requirements, and regional healthcare systems. However, many healthcare organizations also work with nationally recognized firms that combine local presence with broader project experience. The most effective partners typically bring both familiarity with the Austin market alongside experience delivering complex healthcare facilities across multiple regions.
- What types of healthcare projects require specialized architectural expertise? Projects such as acute care hospitals, cancer centers, surgical facilities, and academic medical centers require highly specialized expertise due to strict regulatory requirements, advanced building systems, and complex clinical workflows. These environments often benefit from teams with deep healthcare portfolios and integrated technical capabilities to ensure both compliance and long-term operational performance.
- How do healthcare architecture firms measure project success after completion? Leading firms increasingly use post-occupancy evaluations and performance metrics to assess how a facility functions after opening. This can include patient satisfaction, staff efficiency, workflow optimization, and clinical outcomes. Firms that incorporate this feedback into future projects are often better equipped to deliver continuous improvement and more effective healthcare environments over time.
Ready to discuss your next healthcare facility project? Contact BSA to explore how integrated design services and evidence-based methodology can deliver measurable results for your organization.