HCD Rising Star: Kierstyn Feldlavy, associate, architect, and medical planner, SmithGroup
Within her first five years working in the healthcare design sector, Kierstyn Feldlavy served as an integral part of the project team that delivered one of the largest and most complicated ambulatory surgery centers in the U.S.—the University of California, Davis 48X Complex, which started construction in 2022 and opened in July. On that project, she held responsibilities in both medical planning and technical architecture, illustrating her diverse skills that are helping her make an impact.
A graduate of Iowa State University she joined SmithGroup’s Denver office in July 2022 as a medical planner and achieved the rank of associate in December 2024. At the firm, she’s contributed to a range of healthcare projects, from critical access hospitals to large-scale urban campuses, working with clients including CommonSpirit Health (Chicago), Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.), and Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa, the latter in partnership with Architecture+ (Monroe, La.) to deliver behavioral health environments.
On each project, Feldlavy brings a holistic, strategic lens to design. On a recent healthcare project, she collaborated closely with lighting designers to implement circadian lighting strategies. At the same time, she coordinated the integration of prefabricated toilet pods to accelerate construction and improve quality control. Her ability to synthesize diverse systems and disciplines allowed her to create a cohesive, patient-centered environment while advancing project efficiency.
She also leads through mentorship and advocacy, having chaired the Association of Medical Facility Professionals’ Emerging Professionals program and founding the Young Architect Squad at SmithGroup to share her knowledge with other emerging leaders.
From managing small technical upgrades to driving complex master plans, Feldlavy has demonstrated dedication to advancing the healthcare design industry while expanding her own knowledge and skills.
Path to healthcare design: What drew me to healthcare design was its unique blend of empathy and impact. It’s a rare field where architecture directly influences healing, dignity, and access—designing spaces that care for people at their most vulnerable moments. My mission is to listen with intention, lead with empathy, and create spaces—physical or emotional—that protect, uplift, and empower the people around me.
Describe your design approach: Human-centered, strategic, and collaborative—grounded in empathy and performance.
On your desk now: I’m serving as a medical planning lead for a new greenfield hospital campus and exploring strategies for prefabrication, intuitive circulation, and patient-centered adjacencies. I’m also leading mentorship programs and supporting emerging professionals in healthcare design, including the creation of a scholarship program and a peer-to-peer mentorship group for those seeking their architectural license.
Most rewarding project to date: I recently led a series of bed conversion projects for a hospital in Colorado that has been operating at full capacity. The dedication of the staff and the urgency of their needs made this work deeply meaningful. Supporting a local hospital in such a tangible way and building relationships with the incredible people who keep it running, has been one of the most moving experiences of my career.
What success means to you: Creating environments that serve both people and purpose—spaces that heal, teams that grow, and projects that move the industry forward.
Industry challenge on your radar: The growing gap between experienced professionals and the next generation of designers. We’re witnessing an exodus of institutional knowledge as seasoned leaders retire, and without intentional connection, we risk losing critical insights that shape quality, safety, and innovation in our projects.
Bridging this gap requires more than mentorship. It demands systemic change in how we value, structure, and prioritize knowledge transfer. I’ve championed this cause by speaking at national and local conferences, authoring articles, serving on executive boards, and creating programs that bring emerging professionals and industry veterans together. The future of healthcare design depends on our ability to preserve wisdom while empowering new voices to shape what comes next.
Find updates and additional information on the 2025 HCD Conference + Expo here.
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