Press Releases

ACHA releases landmark “VA Task Force 2023 Report”

April 11, 2023

The American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) has partnered with the Veterans Administration Construction and Facilities Management (CFM) Department to improve healthcare delivery to veterans via a yearlong Task Force, composed of six ACHA certificants and VA representatives. The ACHA Task Force recommendations included new healthcare paradigms to improve Veteran access to care and create an equitable system of care. The Task Force proposed a tiered, four-dimensional hub + spoke model that adapts to the veteran’s needs, utilizing high tech/high touch technology to deliver personalized health care services nationwide.

VA Task Force Press Release

ACHA and NIHD Form Partnership to Promote Inter-Professional Expertise in Healthcare Design

October 27, 2022

The American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA), and the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD), are pleased to announce a new partnership to promote inter-professional expertise in the healthcare design process.  Board certified ACHA architects provide expertise at the highest level of healthcare design and planning.  NIHD members provide clinical expertise that encourages optimal operational solutions. This collaboration will help shape the future and quality of healthcare design.

NIHD Press Release

Congratulations to our 2021 Class of Certificants

September 13, 2021

The American College of Healthcare Architects congratulates its class of 2021 on its accomplishment with ACHA. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recognized the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) as a specialty credential program. The ACHA has been providing credentialing for healthcare architects for over 20 years, and we are honored to be able to include you in our accomplishments and our future.

Class of 2021

Future of Healthcare Task Force

July 31, 2021

We are pleased to release the report of the Future of Healthcare Task Force.

ACHA welcomes new Board in 2021

Released November 17, 2020

The American College of Healthcare Architects has announced the election of Angela Mazzi, FAIA, FACHA as the 2021 President of the Board of Regents.  Angela assumes this role as of January 1, 2021 and succeeds 2020 President Vince Avallone, AIA, ACHA. Steve Templet, AIA, ACHA of Sizeler Thompson Brown Architects has been named 2021 President-Elect of the Board of Regents. In addition, Dan Delk, AIA, ACHA, and Ann Adams,
AIA, ACHA, have joined the Board of Regents.

2021 Board Announcement

Congratulations to our 2020 Class of Fellows

Released November 17, 2020

The American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) announces William C. Ayars, AIA, FACHA, and Abigail Clary, AIA, FACHA have recently been elevated to Fellow status in the College. While there are nearly 400 colleagues in the United States and Canada who are ACHA board certified healthcare architects, there are only 49 ACHA Fellows as designated by the credential FACHA. 

Fellows Class of 2020

Congratulations to our 2020 ACHA Certificants

Released October 19, 2020

The American College of Healthcare Architects congratulates its class of 2020 on its accomplishment with ACHA. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recognized the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) as a specialty credential program. The ACHA has been providing credentialing for healthcare architects for 20 years, and we are honored to be able to include you in our accomplishments and our future.

Class of 2020

COVID-19 Survey Results

Released May 18, 2020

The American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) is pleased to release key findings by survey of its members revealing their insights on the future of healthcare architecture and the role of design in the COVID-19 healthcare crisis.

“The extensive experience of ACHA’s accomplished healthcare architects give us a unique insight for how this pandemic will shape the future of healthcare design,” said Vince Avallone, ACHA President. “These findings will influence the design of hospitals and healthcare environments for years to come.”

The survey revealed the following:

  • Over 63% of respondents helped clients evaluate alternative care sites.
  • Over 60% of ACHA experts were called on to help healthcare systems increase capacity – 28% created over 100 beds. 
  • Over 70% of respondents believe design for mass casualty patient surges will be an important element for hospitals in the future.
  • Over 80% of respondents thought the telehealth boom would have major impact on facility design.

ACHA surveyed more than 100 certified professional healthcare designers to reveal lessons learned from COVID-19 and the role of medical planner in addressing the crisis. Participants represent areas across North America, including many of the most severely affected states such as New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, California, and Pennsylvania.

The survey also identified upcoming challenges:

  • How can hospitals be designed so normal operations (such as elective procedures) can continue through a pandemic so as not disrupt regular patient treatment and reduce financial challenges?
  • Restrictions will likely be implemented on patient/visitor traffic flow to control cross-contamination. How will this transform facility intake and entry design?
  • How will increased restrictions placed on patient/visitor traffic flow to control cross-contamination transform facility intake and entry design?
  • How can architects emphasize on building flexible, adaptable facilities that can be easily modified to allow a quick response to changing medical priorities?
  • How can healthcare and non-healthcare facilities be designed to handle patient overflow in a more expedient fashion?

 “ACHA certificate holders represent a majority of the nation’s top healthcare design firms,” said Avallone. “These results show our continuing commitment to help develop solutions for future healthcare design challenges.  They demonstrate how the healthcare sector calls on ACHA certificants for advice, expertise and implementation when it is needed the most.  Having the ACHA credential and consulting with an ACHA certified architect is valued now more than ever. “

Click here for the full results of the survey. 

Congratulations to our 2019 ACHA Fellows

Released Nov. 8, 2019

The American College of Healthcare Architects congratulates its Fellows class of 2019 on earning the distinction of ACHA Fellow.  The following were honored at the 2019 ACHA Annual Luncheon in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Michael H. Kang, FAIA, FACHA – SmithGroup, Washington, DCR. David Frum, FAIA, FACHA – Salus Architecture Inc., Seattle, WashingtonLouis A. Meilink, FAIA, FACHA – Ballinger, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaBryan Langlands, AIA, FACHA – NBBJ, New York, New YorkPaul L. Macheske, AIA, FACHA – HuntonBrady Architects, Orlando, Florida

Fellows Class of 2019

Congratulations to our 2019 ACHA Certificants

Released Sept 6, 2019

The American College of Healthcare Architects congratulates its class of 2019 on its accomplishment with ACHA. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recognized the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) as a specialty credential program. The ACHA has been providing credentialing for healthcare architects for 20 years, and we are honored to be able to include you in our accomplishments and our future.

Class of 2019


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