The Urbanist How healthcare-facility design can improve the lives of all city dwellers
Dec 18, 2025
David Martin, Global Design Director at Stantec, and Perry Ashenfelter, Senior Associate at Perkins and Will, dive into the transformative power of healthcare facility design. They discuss how hospitals can serve as civic hubs, enhancing community engagement and connectivity. Martin emphasizes strategies for public access that integrate nature and daylight into hospital spaces to promote healing. Ashenfelter shares insights into the renovation of the Animal Medical Center, focusing on staff wellbeing and maintaining operations during complex updates, highlighting the importance of design in veterinary care.
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Hospitals As Civic Anchors
- Well-designed hospitals can act as civic buildings that stitch together fragmented urban fabric and create public spaces.
- David Martin describes Central Manchester Hospitals as giving a "gift back" by forming Manchester's second largest public space.
Unexpected Town Hub In Enniskillen
- In Enniskillen a hospital atrium with shops unexpectedly drew town residents for haircuts and meals.
- The design turned the remote hospital into a midday community hub beyond healthcare use.
Transit-Linked Hospital Activation
- Integrating transit and retail into hospital design normalizes hospitals as part of daily urban life.
- The Mississauga project lifts clinical space to host retail and public lectures tied to a planned light rail stop.