In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare design, industry experts are gazing into their crystal balls to predict what 2025 might hold. Scott Rawlings, a prominent healthcare architect based in Washington, D.C., shares his insights as part of Healthcare Design’s 2025 Industry Predictions series, offering a compelling vision of the opportunities and challenges ahead.
At the forefront of this vision is the continued investment in advanced technologies and tools tailored to the healthcare market. Rawlings emphasizes that this trend extends from medical technology to information technology, including systems designed to mitigate the impact of the declining labor market. “There is a major opportunity for design firms to invest in the ability to assist clients with this area of growth,” he asserts. This shift towards technology-driven solutions is not merely about innovation for its own sake, but about addressing practical needs within the healthcare sector. As hospitals and healthcare facilities grapple with staffing shortages and increasing patient demands, the integration of smart systems and automated processes becomes imperative. Design firms that can harness these technologies to create more efficient and effective healthcare environments will be at a significant advantage.
The demographic shift brought on by the aging baby boomer population is another pivotal factor reshaping the industry. Rawlings observes, “This has fueled the turn from ‘less beds’ to ‘more beds’ in the past eight years in conjunction with the fact that we will continue to experience major pandemics.” This trend is driving the development of specialized medical centers focused on aging-related issues such as vision, rehabilitation, and memory disorders. The rise of clinical trials and advanced research facilities further underscores the sector’s response to the needs of an aging population. For healthcare designers, this means a greater emphasis on creating adaptable and specialized spaces that can accommodate the unique requirements of older patients.
Political shifts and regulatory changes also loom large on the horizon. While Rawlings notes that it’s difficult to predict the exact impact of the new administration’s policies on construction prices and labor, he does highlight potential concerns. “According to our contractor sources, the feel is major projects may slow due to higher costs on internationally sourced materials,” he says. This could have a ripple effect on the healthcare design sector, potentially leading to a slowdown in large-scale projects as costs rise. Additionally, the regulatory environment post-election is likely to see a period of hesitation, particularly in the public sector, as academic medical centers pause to assess the fallout. Rawlings anticipates that this cautious approach could temporarily slow down projects, especially in areas of academic medical center research.
The trends in construction projects are also evolving. Rawlings predicts that while the past few years have seen a significant number of megaprojects, 2025 may witness a slowdown in this market. “We are seeing significant growth in major renovations and reimagining of platforms with advanced technology as an investment in existing campuses,” he observes. This shift towards renovations and smaller, more advanced outpatient facilities is driven by rising costs and a slowing megaproject market. For healthcare designers, this means a focus on repurposing and upgrading existing structures to meet modern healthcare needs, rather than starting from scratch.
As we navigate these changes, the healthcare design industry stands at a crossroads. The opportunities presented by technological advancements, demographic shifts, and evolving construction trends are substantial. However, they also come with challenges that require innovative solutions and adaptable strategies. For design firms, the path forward lies in embracing these changes and leveraging them to create more efficient, effective, and sustainable healthcare environments.
Rawlings’ insights serve as a call to action for the industry, urging professionals to stay agile and forward-thinking in the face of uncertainty. As we step into 2025, the healthcare design sector is poised for transformation, driven by a confluence of technological, demographic, and regulatory factors. The firms that can anticipate and adapt to these changes will not only thrive but also play a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare delivery.