Insights

Quick Take with Kevin Wyrsch

Kevin Wyrsch

Kevin Wyrsch, AIA, is a Principal and Healthcare Practice Group Leader in our Boston office, where he provides strategic direction for a growing design team serving clients throughout the East Coast. He has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare planning and design. His expertise includes all phases of project development, from comprehensive planning through design and construction—always keeping an eye on changing dynamics in the healthcare industry.

Kevin has presented at major conferences, including Healthcare Design and the New England Healthcare Engineers’ Society. He also has acted as a thesis advisor for students at the New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University and the Boston Architectural College, and facilitated a seminar on looking beyond ADA at the MGH Institute of Health Professions.

In the following, he shares his design inspiration and strategies for bringing value to clients and communities.   

Why did you become involved in healthcare design?

Over the years, I’ve realized that healthcare architecture is a natural fit for who I am, my interests, and my passions. As with many architects, I was interested in science and math, but also had a natural artistic and creative side. I spent the first few years of college studying anthropology and environmental science, but it just didn’t feel right. In the end, it was the balance between logic and creativity that led me to graduate school in architecture. My anthropology degree had created a foundation of being human-centric and having an appreciation of cultural diversity and what makes us human. It’s that “human” piece that is so critical to healthcare design.

Does healthcare design serve ‘the social good’?

Absolutely. I have had the opportunity to work for several community-based healthcare organizations that provide a holistic care model, one that focuses on treating the whole person, not just the illness. This starts through a genuine understanding of their patients’ challenges and what limits their access to care, and then works to remove those barriers to improve health.

I’ve been asked in the past what projects are my favorite or what makes me most proud. While the big projects with large budgets are a lot of fun, I am honestly most proud of the smaller ones that have made the biggest impact: a vegetable garden that supports a wellness program. . . a school-based health clinic. . . an emergency behavioral health unit. These are examples where healthcare design can serve ‘the social good’, and I am honored to have supported my clients who create these spaces for their patients.

What is the best part about being at HGA? 

That’s easy—it’s the people. I feel fortunate to be surrounded by such positive, intelligent, and talented people. Our teams are filled with such diversity and strength that I feel we have no limits to how we can help our clients.    

What inspires you about your clients?

Healthcare providers are truly inspirational. I am constantly humbled by their passion, care, and commitment to helping others. Our role as designers is to support their mission by creating efficient, human-centered healthcare spaces that contribute to a positive patient outcome.

Any advice for emerging designers?

My typical advice for emerging designers has been to listen, ask questions, do your best work, and find where your passion lies. Recently, I’ve simplified this to being present in the moment. No matter what you’re doing, whether it’s listening to a client, drawing a detail, or talking to a consultant, you need to be fully engaged and focused on that task. So, my newest advice is simple: “Bring It”—because your future deserves your best.

What’s next on your calendar?

As our practice grows, we continue to build on our core values and develop strong partnerships with clients. I am so proud of the work our talented healthcare team does and I’m most excited to continue sharing with our current and future clients alike what makes HGA’s healthcare practice so special.

Learn more about our impact in healthcare spaces.