Lauren Cole, system director of design strategy, Providence (Renton, Wash.)
Editor’s Note: This article is part a Healthcare Design’s Industry Predictions series. Throughout January, HCD will share perspectives from respected industry voices on where the sector may head in 2026 and what challenges and opportunities are on their radar.
Lauren Cole (Headshot: Courtesy of Lauren Cole)
Healthcare Design is kicking off its 2026 Healthcare Design Predictions series with Lauren Cole, system director of design strategy, at Providence (Renton, Wash.).
Check out her thoughts on what opportunities and challenges are ahead for the industry over the next 12 months, including why 2026 will be the year of hyper-intentionality in design with healthcare systems investing in purposeful, right-sized environments and elevating staff well-being as a core design outcome.
Healthcare Design: What lessons did the industry learn from 2025’s challenges?
Cole: 2025 taught us two invaluable lessons: flexibility and agility.
Flexibility became essential as we designed spaces that could stretch, shift, and accommodate new models of care, rapid and evolving tech integration, and unpredictable volumes. Agility became non-negotiable as teams learned to deliver meaningful, supportive environments with fewer resources than ever before.
These constraints didn’t weaken the industry, however; they sharpened it.
HCD: Where do you think the healthcare design industry will head in 2026?
Cole: In my opinion, 2026 will be the year of hyper-intentionality in design. Rather than defaulting to large-scale expansions, we’ll see systems invest in purposeful, right-sized environments, elevate staff well-being as a core design outcome, and continue integrating digital and physical experiences more seamlessly.
Additionally, success will be measured not just by operational metrics, but by how deeply environments support trust, equity, and belonging.
HCD: What do you see as the biggest opportunity for change in the new year?
Cole: Our greatest opportunity is to reconnect with the core function of healthcare: people caring for people.
It’s easy to get lost in technical requirements, equipment lists, and capital constraints, but meaningful change will come from re-engaging with communities, listening closely to Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) groups, and deeply understanding the challenges caregivers face every day. When design teams lean into humanity, not just functionality, everything else improves.
HCD: What emerging trends or opportunities are you most excited about—and why?
Cole: One trend I’m especially energized by is the rise of microsites and hyper-local care environments.
While major hospital projects will always be exciting, these smaller, purpose-built sites are redefining access to care. They allow us to deliver high-quality, community-informed health services in ways that are nimble, equitable, and deeply tailored.
It’s a big shift disguised as something small, and its impact will be profound.
Anne DiNardo is editor-in-chief of Healthcare Design and can be reached at [email protected].
