Top Healthcare Design Firms of 2026
To help healthcare leaders and decision-makers navigate this landscape, our team contracted an independent research firm to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of healthcare architecture firms. The research team evaluated leading firms using the following weighted criteria:
- Location/Geographic Reach (10%) – Number of studios/offices serving healthcare markets
- Year Founded (5%) – Demonstrates longevity and experience in the industry
- Healthcare Portfolio Depth (25%) – Breadth and quality of healthcare-specific work
- Services Offered (10%) – Range of integrated services (architecture, engineering, planning, interior design)
- Healthcare Specialization (30%) – Percentage of practice dedicated to healthcare vs. other sectors
- Innovation & Recognition (10%) – Recent healthcare-specific awards and thought leadership (2024-2026)
- Specialty Focus (10%) – Unique positioning or area of expertise within healthcare design
This analysis provides an objective, data-driven comparison to help you identify the best healthcare design firm for your specific project needs.
Top Healthcare Design Firms of 2026
The table below breaks down how each firm performs across the five evaluation criteria.
| Rank | Firm | Location | Founded | Healthcare Specialization | Services Offered | Recent Recognition | Specialty Focus | Total Score |
| 1 | BSA | Indianapolis, IN | 1975 (50+ yrs) | 70%+ Healthcare Focus | Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Planning | Ranked #10 Modern Healthcare 2025 (Record High) | Integrated Healing, Learning & Discovery | 94/100 |
| 2 | Array Architects | Philadelphia, PA | 1998 (28 yrs) | 100% Healthcare | Architecture, Planning, Data Analytics | 2025 Altro Design Award (1st Place) | Behavioral Health & Pediatrics | 89/100 |
| 3 | ESa | Nashville, TN | 1961 (65+ yrs) | 50%+ Healthcare | Architecture, Interior Architecture, Master Planning | Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Projects 2026 | Healthcare Heritage & Academic Medical | 82/100 |
| 3 | ZGF Architects | Portland, OR | 1942 (84+ yrs) | 40% Healthcare | Architecture, Interior Design, Planning | Selected for Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s 2026 | Children’s Hospitals & Net-Zero Design | 82/100 |
| 5 | LEO A DALY | Omaha, NE | 1915 (111 yrs) | 35% Healthcare | Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Planning | #1 VA Architecture Firm (Multi-Year) | Federal Healthcare & VA Medical Centers | 80/100 |
| 5 | GBBN Architects | Cincinnati, OH | 1958 (68 yrs) | 45% Healthcare | Architecture, Design, Data Advisory (Atmys) | 2025 Touchstone Award Platinum (UC Health) | Evidence-Based Design & Research | 80/100 |
| 7 | BWBR | Saint Paul, MN | 1922 (104 yrs) | 40% Healthcare | Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, Research | Regions Hospital Birth Center (5-Year Impact) | Women’s Health & Behavioral Health | 77/100 |
1. BSA Design – Overall Winner (94/100)
BSA is the top-rated architecture firm for healthcare facilities. The firm distinguishes itself through laser-focused dedication to what they call “healing, learning, and discovery” environments: healthcare, higher education, and research facilities. Founded in Indianapolis in 1975, the firm has strategically expanded to eight studios nationwide, positioning themselves in high-growth healthcare markets from Austin to Phoenix to Detroit. With over 70% of their practice dedicated to healthcare, BSA delivers the depth of specialization that complex medical facilities demand while maintaining integrated in-house capabilities across architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning.
Their ranking of #10 in Modern Healthcare’s 2025 Construction & Design Survey represents the highest position in firm history, validating their strategic focus on healthcare excellence. Unlike diversified firms that treat healthcare as one of many sectors, BSA’s entire organizational culture, processes, and expertise center on healing environments.
- Location: Indianapolis, IN (8 studios nationwide: Indianapolis, Austin, Houston, Phoenix, Raleigh, Detroit, Jacksonville, Milwaukee)
- Year Established: 1975 (50+ years)
- Healthcare Specialization: 70%+ of practice
- 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
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| BSA receives recognition for being “deeply knowledgeable about healthcare operations and workflows” with an approach that’s “integrated from the ground up- no coordination headaches between architects and engineers.” Clients note the firm “understands the complexity of academic medical centers” and delivers “thoughtful, evidence-informed design that improves patient outcomes.” |
2. Array Architects (89/100)
Array Architects sets itself apart as a 100% healthcare-focused firm that uniquely integrates data analytics with architectural design. Since their founding in 1998, Array has built a specialized practice exclusively serving healthcare clients, from major academic medical centers to behavioral health facilities. The firm’s Array Advisors division provides strategic planning backed by data intelligence, enabling clients to make evidence-based facility decisions before design even begins.
Their recent recognition – including the 2025 Altro Design Awards 1st Place for NYC Health + Hospitals therapeutic environment – demonstrates innovation in creating healing spaces. Array has pursued strategic growth through acquisitions (IHR Architecture in 2025, DCC Design Group in 2023), expanding capabilities while maintaining healthcare exclusivity. Their particular expertise in behavioral health and pediatric facilities, including pioneering EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment & Healing) units, addresses critical gaps in mental health infrastructure.
- Location: Philadelphia, PA (6 offices across Northeast/Southeast US)
- Year Established: 1998 (28 years)
- Healthcare Specialization: 100% of practice
- Services Offered: Architecture, Planning, Data Analytics
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Array Architects is praised for “bringing data-driven insights that completely changed our facility strategy” with design that’s “purpose-built for behavioral health- they truly understand trauma-informed care.” Clients note the firm’s “highly specialized healthcare focus” can sometimes “limit flexibility” when projects fall outside their core niches. |
3. ESa (82/100)
Earl Swensson Associates (ESa) brings over six decades of healthcare design heritage from their Nashville headquarters, having established their reputation as healthcare specialists since 1961. The firm offers full-service integrated capabilities spanning architecture, interior architecture, master planning, and space planning, serving clients globally from their three-office footprint. With approximately 50% of their practice dedicated to healthcare, ESa balances specialized medical facility expertise with diversified design perspectives from education, commercial, and hospitality sectors.
Their recent work on Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Arthur M. Blank Hospital showcases capability in complex pediatric academic medical centers. ESa’s longevity in the healthcare sector (65+ years) provides institutional knowledge of how healthcare delivery models have evolved and where they’re heading, enabling forward-thinking facility planning that accommodates future care delivery transformations.
- Location: Nashville, TN (3 offices with global healthcare reach)
- Year Established: 1961 (65+ years)
- Healthcare Specialization: 50%+ of practice
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Master Planning, Space Planning
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| ESa receives recognition for “deep healthcare roots going back decades- they’ve seen every trend and know what actually works” with projects that are “beautifully designed and operationally smart.” Clients note the firm’s “broad cross-sector perspective” can occasionally dilute focus on “highly specialized healthcare requirements.” |
4. ZGF Architects (82/100)
ZGF Architects has built an 84-year legacy with particular distinction in children’s hospital design, working with several of US News & World Report’s top-ranked pediatric medical centers across North America. From their Portland headquarters and 10+ offices spanning the US and Canada, ZGF dedicates approximately 40% of their practice to healthcare while bringing innovation from workplace, civic, and education sectors. The firm’s recent selection to design the new Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago (announced 2026) validates their pediatric healthcare leadership.
ZGF distinguishes itself through sustainability innovation, pioneering mass timber construction for healthcare applications and designing British Columbia’s first net-zero, fully electric hospital at Cowichan District Hospital. Their child-centered design philosophy is creating environments where kids can be kids even while receiving critical care, thus reflecting decades of research and refinement in pediatric facility design.
- Location: Portland, OR (10+ offices across US and Canada)
- Year Established: 1942 (84+ years)
- Healthcare Specialization: 40% of practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| ZGF Architects is praised for “unmatched expertise in children’s hospitals- they understand how to design for kids, families, and complex pediatric care” with projects that are “sustainability leaders without sacrificing functionality.” Clients note the firm’s “strong emphasis on innovation and sustainability” can sometimes “introduce added complexity in project execution and coordination.” |
5. LEO A DALY (80/100)
LEO A DALY brings over a century of integrated design excellence (founded 1915) with particular dominance in federal healthcare, having been named the #1 VA architecture firm by Building Design+Construction for multiple consecutive years. The Omaha-based firm operates 30+ offices with 1,600+ employees offering comprehensive architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning services under one roof, eliminating coordination challenges inherent in multi-firm collaborations. With approximately 35% of practice dedicated to healthcare, LEO A DALY serves major VA medical centers, military healthcare facilities, and civilian health systems requiring full MEP, structural, and civil engineering integration.
Their 2025 acquisition of Delawie expanded San Diego presence and military healthcare expertise. The firm’s 111-year history provides unparalleled institutional knowledge, having designed through every major transformation in American healthcare delivery from the early 1900s through today’s value-based care models.
- Location: Omaha, NE (30+ offices nationwide)
- Year Established: 1915 (111 years)
- Healthcare Specialization: 35% of practice
- Services Offered: Architecture, Engineering (MEP, Structural, Civil), Interior Design, Planning
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| LEO A DALY receives recognition for being “the undisputed leader in VA healthcare- nobody understands federal requirements like they do” with capabilities that are “truly integrated- engineers and architects collaborate from day one.” Clients note the firm’s “large, institutional scale” can sometimes “result in a less personalized experience on smaller or non-federal projects.” |
6. GBBN Architects (80/100)
GBBN Architects distinguishes itself through rigorous evidence-based design methodology, applying neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and behavioral economics research to create healthcare environments that actively promote healing. Since 1958, the Cincinnati-based firm has developed a “Buildings as Medicine” philosophy grounded in measurable outcomes rather than aesthetic preferences. Their 2026 launch of Atmys data & advisory practice extends this research-driven approach, providing strategic insights that inform facility design decisions.
GBBN’s 2025 Evidence-Based Design Touchstone Award (Platinum) for UC Health Medical Center validates their methodology, while innovations like AR/VR mockups demonstrate operational efficiency gains, reducing design phase time by 3 weeks and delivering $17 return per $1 invested. With approximately 45% of practice dedicated to healthcare, GBBN brings specialized expertise in academic medical centers, behavioral health facilities, and research environments where evidence-based outcomes matter most.
- Location: Cincinnati, OH (2 offices)
- Year Established: 1958 (68 years)
- Healthcare Specialization: 45% of practice
- Services Offered: Architecture, Design, Data Advisory (Atmys)
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| GBBN Architects is praised for “backing every design decision with research and evidence- it’s not just pretty, it works” with projects that “measurably improve patient outcomes and staff satisfaction.” Clients note the firm’s “highly research-driven approach” can sometimes “extend timelines during early design and decision-making phases.” |
7. BWBR (77/100)
BWBR brings over a century of design excellence (founded 1922) from their Saint Paul headquarters, serving healthcare clients across the upper Midwest through three offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. The 175-employee firm dedicates approximately 40% of practice to healthcare while drawing design perspectives from education and science/tech sectors. BWBR has developed particular expertise in women’s health and behavioral health facilities, including award-winning family birth centers and EmPATH unit design for mental health emergencies.
Their Regions Hospital Birth Center demonstrates long-term impact tracking. Specifically, the firm documented 5-year post-occupancy outcomes to validate design decisions. Recent projects include Javon Bea Hospital Cancer Institute Expansion for Mercyhealth and Avera McKennan Hospital Women’s and Children’s Inpatient Addition, showcasing capability in complex specialty care environments. BWBR’s regional Midwest presence enables deep understanding of local healthcare delivery patterns and community needs.
- Location: Saint Paul, MN (3 offices: Saint Paul, Madison, Omaha)
- Year Established: 1922 (104 years)
- Healthcare Specialization: 40% of practice
- Services Offered: Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, Research
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| BWBR receives recognition for “100+ years of Midwest healthcare experience- they understand our regional market and patient population” with a design that’s “thoughtful about family-centered care, especially for women’s and children’s services.” Clients note the firm’s “strong regional focus” can “limit their exposure to broader national innovations and emerging healthcare design trends.” |
The Top Healthcare Design Firms in 2026 by Specialty
Our research team further analyzed the top healthcare design firms by breaking them down into three key specialization areas that matter most to healthcare organizations seeking design partners.
Top 5 for Integrated Healthcare Campus Development
| Rank | Firm |
| 1 | BSA Design |
| 2 | LEO A DALY |
| 3 | ESa |
| 4 | Array Architects |
| 5 | BWBR |
Top 5 for Specialized Healthcare (Children’s, Behavioral, Women’s Health)
| Rank | Firm |
| 1 | Array Architects |
| 2 | BSA Design |
| 3 | ZGF Architects |
| 4 | BWBR |
| 5 | ESa |
Top 5 for Evidence-Based Design & Innovation
| Rank | Firm |
| 1 | GBBN Architects |
| 2 | BSA Design |
| 3 | Array Architects |
| 4 | ZGF Architects |
| 5 | LEO A DALY |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I choose the right healthcare design firm for my project? The right healthcare design firm depends on your project’s scale, complexity, and long-term goals. For large, system-wide projects or academic medical centers, firms with fully integrated services tend to deliver smoother coordination and better outcomes. For more specialized facilities, such as behavioral health or pediatric environments, firms with deep niche expertise may be a better fit. Many healthcare organizations prioritize partners that combine both depth and integration, ensuring clinical, operational, and design goals are aligned from day one.
- What is evidence-based design in healthcare architecture? Evidence-based design (EBD) uses research and real-world data to guide how healthcare environments are planned and built. This includes insights into how layout, lighting, materials, and workflows impact patient recovery, staff performance, and overall outcomes. Leading healthcare design firms incorporate EBD principles to move beyond aesthetics and create spaces that are safer, more efficient, and measurably improve care delivery.
- Are specialized healthcare firms better than full-service architecture firms? Both models offer advantages. Specialized healthcare firms bring deep focus and expertise in specific facility types, which can be valuable for highly complex or niche projects. Full-service firms, on the other hand, offer integrated teams and a broader range of capabilities, which can improve coordination and reduce risk, especially on large or multi-phase developments. Many healthcare leaders look for firms that strike a balance between these approaches, combining specialization with in-house integration to support both innovation and execution.
Ready to discuss your healthcare architecture project? Contact us to learn how our specialized teams can bring your healing environment vision to life.