Mark Criswell Discusses Healthcare Facility Design after COVID-19 in D Magazine
How should hospitals and outpatient facilities adapt when care delivery changes quickly? That question shaped a May 2021 conversation in D Magazine featuring Guide Architecture principal Mark Criswell, Methodist Health System president Pamela Stoyanoff and Skiles Group chief operating officer Keyan Zandy.
The discussion examined lessons from COVID-19 and what those experiences suggested for the future of healthcare facility design. Criswell shared a designer’s perspective on adaptability, patient flow, technology and the demands placed on both new and existing healthcare spaces.
Four Design Priorities Explored in the Conversation
Supporting expanded telehealth services
As virtual appointments became more common, healthcare systems began evaluating the physical and technical infrastructure needed to provide them reliably. Criswell pointed to the need for facilities to accommodate secure telehealth technology alongside in-person care, rather than treating virtual visits as separate from broader facility planning.
Rethinking waiting rooms and circulation
The pandemic intensified attention on how patients arrive, wait and move through healthcare environments. Smaller waiting areas, alternative entrances and exits, and fewer shared touchpoints were among the ideas discussed as systems considered ways to support safer, more flexible patient experiences.
Making existing spaces more adaptable
Criswell anticipated a near-term emphasis on renovation and repurposing, as providers reconsidered how existing real estate could accommodate changing volumes and care models. The conversation also addressed mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure that could help hospitals respond to different operational needs.
Planning for behavioral health needs
The discussion recognized behavioral health as an increasingly important area of healthcare delivery. Criswell noted the potential for greater demand for mental health services and the importance of considering that need as healthcare organizations planned future facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who participated in the D Magazine interview?
The May 2021 discussion included Guide Architecture principal Mark Criswell, Methodist Health System president Pamela Stoyanoff and Skiles Group COO Keyan Zandy, who led the conversation.
What topics did Mark Criswell address?
Criswell discussed telehealth infrastructure, waiting and circulation spaces, renovations, flexible hospital systems and the need to consider behavioral health services.
Read the original D Magazine conversation and explore Guide’s healthcare portfolio.