The Top Healthcare Architecture Firm in Indianapolis in 2026

Between January 2026 and April 2026, our team contracted an independent research firm, to conduct a comprehensive study of healthcare architecture firms serving the Indianapolis market. The team analyzed 7 firms using the following weighted factors:

• Average Review Score (25%) – Client and employee satisfaction ratings
• Healthcare Specialization Depth (35%) – Percentage of work dedicated to healthcare
• Evidence-Based Design Certification (25%) – EDAC credentials and research partnerships
• Integrated Services Score (15%) – Architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design capabilities

Based on this framework, the team rank-ordered the firms and presented the top performers in the table below, with detailed summaries following.

The Top Healthcare Architecture Firms in Indianapolis in 2026

In the table below, we break down the leading healthcare architecture firms serving Indianapolis based on our research-driven methodology.

1. BSA, for Integrated Healthcare Delivery Design

BSA stands as Indianapolis’s premier healthcare architecture firm, distinguished by its comprehensive integration of architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design services under one roof. With approximately 60–70% of revenue derived from healthcare building design projects, BSA demonstrates exceptional focus on the sector while maintaining diversification in higher education and research facilities.

The firm’s evidence-based design approach leverages credible research to inform every planning and design decision, with multiple EDAC-certified professionals on staff. BSA’s Indianapolis portfolio includes transformative projects such as the IU Health New Downtown Hospital (part of the CURIS Design collaboration), Riley Hospital for Children Maternity Tower, and the Fifth Third Faculty Office Building for Eskenazi Health. The firm employs advanced simulation modeling, 3D/4D immersion technology, and sustainability consulting to deliver metrics-driven results that align precisely with client visions.

• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Average Review Score: 4.7/5.0
• Services Offered: Architecture, structural/MEP/civil engineering, planning, interior design, commissioning, sustainability consulting

2. ARTEKNA, for Exclusive Healthcare Design

ARTEKNA represents the purest healthcare architecture specialist in Indianapolis, having focused extensively on healthcare clients since its founding in 1988. This singular dedication translates into unparalleled depth of expertise in addressing the unique challenges incumbent on healthcare providers. The firm’s mission centers on delivering extraordinary healthcare design by continuously perfecting its craft and uniting knowledge, economy, and technology with beauty, resilience, and passion.

The firm’s principal-in-charge model ensures senior leadership remains involved throughout every project phase, providing clients with consistent access to decades of healthcare-specific experience. ARTEKNA’s portfolio spans acute care hospitals, ambulatory facilities, and specialty treatment centers across Indiana. The firm’s philosophy emphasizes that care informs skill, skill guides process, and process leads design – a framework that has proven effective for partnerships with systems including Community Health Network, Floyd Hospital, and IU Health planning initiatives.

• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Average Review Score: 4.5/5.0
• Services Offered: Healthcare architecture, master planning, facility assessments, regulatory compliance consulting

3. Schmidt Associates, for Behavioral Health Design Expertise

Schmidt Associates brings comprehensive architecture and engineering capabilities to healthcare projects, with particular distinction in behavioral health and patient-centered design. The firm’s healthcare studio prioritizes patient experience and staff efficiency while advancing equity and accessibility across all projects. Recent work demonstrates expertise in telemedicine integration, community-specific needs assessment, and inclusive design principles that elevate care quality.

The firm’s behavioral health specialization addresses both inpatient and outpatient settings with unique attention to safety, security, and therapeutic environment design. Schmidt Associates completed the Emergency Department Replacement at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, Negative Pressure Rooms retrofits during the pandemic, and the Riley Hospital for Children Neurology Department. The firm’s healthcare team includes certified consultants who employ data-driven facility assessments and LEAN healthcare exercises to optimize workflows and reduce operational costs.

• Location: Indianapolis, IN (with Louisville, KY office)
• Average Review Score: 4.2/5.0
• Services Offered: Architecture, MEP/structural/civil engineering, interior design, LEAN healthcare consulting, facility assessments

4. MKM architecture + design, for Consistent National Recognition

MKM architecture + design is based in Fort Wayne with regional reach throughout Indiana and neighboring states. MKM completed over 415,000 square feet of dedicated healthcare space in 2024 alone. This sustained recognition reflects the firm’s commitment to advancing healthcare environments through thoughtful, people-centered design.

As a purpose-driven firm with an agile and experienced team, MKM maintains competitive standing alongside the nation’s largest architecture practices despite its mid-sized structure. The firm’s healthcare portfolio encompasses acute care hospitals, outpatient facilities, and long-term care environments. MKM received American Institute of Architects Fort Wayne Design Awards for work on Cameron Memorial Community Hospital and has demonstrated expertise in both new construction and complex renovation projects that maintain operational continuity.

• Location: Fort Wayne, IN
• Average Review Score: 3.8/5.0
• Services Offered: Architecture, interior design, master planning, healthcare programming

5. CSO Architects, for CURIS Design Partnership

CSO Architects operates as one of Indianapolis’s largest architecture firms, with experience in healthcare alongside corporate, education, and public-sector work. The firm’s involvement as a founding member of CURIS Design, a joint venture with BSA and RATIO Architects, demonstrates CSO’s capacity to manage and coordinate transformative healthcare projects at the highest scale.

On the IU Health Bloomington Hospital project, CSO led overall design team management, coordinating across multiple firms to keep design decisions on track for the 600,000 SF facility. The firm functions as a strategic partner across project types, bringing market sector knowledge and a collaborative process that prioritizes client outcomes. CSO has received multiple IIDA Indiana IDEA Awards for healthcare and senior living projects, evidencing strong integration of interior design with architectural programming.

• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Average Review Score: 4.1/5.0
• Services Offered: Architecture, interior design, master planning, project delivery management

6. RATIO Architects, for Academic Medical Center Expertise

RATIO Architects has established particular expertise in academic medical centers and life sciences facilities, positioning the firm as a natural partner for research-intensive healthcare environments. As a founding member of CURIS Design alongside BSA and CSO, RATIO contributes its architectural design expertise to the new IU Health downtown hospital, one of the most significant healthcare projects in Indiana’s history.

RATIO’s healthcare portfolio includes the Eskenazi Health Ambulatory Care Building, Indiana State Police Forensic Labs, and numerous health professions education facilities for universities. The firm’s approach emphasizes coordinated design that enhances clinical workflows while creating healing environments grounded in evidence-based principles. RATIO’s interdisciplinary structure allows seamless integration of architecture, interior design, and consulting services across complex, multi-phase healthcare campus developments.

• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Average Review Score: 3.7/5.0
• Services Offered: Architecture, interior design, urban planning, campus master planning

7. arcDESIGN, for Modular Clinic Pod Innovation

arcDESIGN specializes in progressive healthcare design approaches that promote efficiency, flexibility, and patient-centered care through innovative spatial solutions. The firm has developed expertise in modular clinic pods, shared support spaces, and staff amenity design that transforms how healthcare systems deliver outpatient services. arcDESIGN’s project range encompasses complicated behavioral care units, ICUs, hybrid operating rooms, and entire hospital buildings, with particular strength in ambulatory and surgical center environments.

The firm’s methodology emphasizes active collaboration with clients, outside experts, and other architecture practices, listening more closely and thinking more deeply to create breakthrough solutions. arcDESIGN, in collaboration with partners, completed the Eskenazi Health Thomas & Arlene Grande Campus in 2024, a state-of-the-art health center on Indianapolis’s east side. The firm employs customized healthcare design tools including detailed project schedules, healthcare space programs, virtual walk-throughs, room data sheets, LEAN exercises, 3D printed models, equipment lists, and full-scale mock-ups to optimize outcomes before construction begins.

• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Average Review Score: 4.0/5.0
• Services Offered: Architecture, interior design, healthcare programming, LEAN healthcare consulting, 3D visualization

The Top Healthcare Architecture Firms in Indianapolis by Specialty

We also broke down the top healthcare architecture firms serving Indianapolis into three subcategories based on specialty and service focus.

1. The Top Full-Service Integrated Healthcare Design Firms in Indianapolis

2. The Top Firms for Large-Scale Academic Medical Centers in Indianapolis

3. The Top Behavioral Health and Specialty Care Design Firms in Indianapolis

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes BSA the top healthcare architecture firm in Indianapolis?

BSA ranks #1 due to its unique combination of full-service integration (architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design under one roof), strong evidence-based design credentials with multiple EDAC-certified professionals, and exceptional portfolio of completed projects, including the IU Health New Downtown Hospital. The firm’s #10 national ranking in Modern Healthcare’s 2025 survey, combined with 60–70% healthcare revenue focus and 4.7/5.0 client satisfaction score, demonstrates consistent excellence in healthcare delivery design.

How important is evidence-based design certification when selecting a healthcare architecture firm?

Evidence-based design (EBD) certification, particularly EDAC credentials from the Center for Health Design, indicates a firm’s commitment to using credible research to drive healthcare facility planning and design decisions. EDAC-certified professionals have demonstrated expertise in applying research findings to achieve measurable improvements in patient outcomes, staff efficiency, and operational performance. Firms with multiple EDAC professionals bring a deeper understanding of how architectural design directly impacts healing, safety, and clinical workflows.

Should I hire a healthcare-exclusive firm or a diversified architecture practice?

The choice depends on your project complexity and specific needs. Healthcare-exclusive firms offer unparalleled depth in healthcare-specific challenges, regulations, and innovations. However, diversified firms with strong healthcare studios bring cross-sector insights that can spark innovation while maintaining healthcare expertise. For large academic medical centers or research facilities, firms experienced in integrating clinical care with education and discovery offer particular advantages through their broader portfolio exposure.

Conclusion

Selecting the right healthcare architecture firm in Indianapolis requires evaluating specialization depth, evidence-based design credentials, integrated service capabilities, and alignment with your project vision. BSA stands out as the top-ranked firm for integrated healthcare delivery design, offering comprehensive architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design solutions that eliminate coordination gaps and accelerate timelines.

Ready to transform your healthcare facility with evidence-based design? Schedule a Consultation with BSA to discuss how integrated architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design services can optimize healing, learning, and discovery in your next project.