SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – SmithGroupJJR has elevated Heather Chung, Assoc. AIA, EDAC, LEED 3AP BD+C, to lead the health planning studio in its San Francisco office.
Chung possesses a distinct combination of architectural design experience, coupled with a background in facilities strategy, systems analysis and research and analytic modeling. In this new role, she will direct planning and programming activities for the practice, mentoring staff and offering project planning and design expertise nationally.
“Heather has an exceptionally strong foundation in strategic planning and design of complex health environments,” said Jim Hannon, who leads SmithGroupJJR’s Health Practice. “She really understands our clients’ business models and the drivers impacting the industry,” continues Hannon.
Chung has been active in the design community for nearly 20 years, specializing in healthcare design for the last decade. She is a LEED certified planner and is EDAC-certified by the Center for Health Design. Evidence-based Design Accreditation and Certification credentials denote that Chung possesses a thorough understanding of how to apply evidence-based processes to the design and development of healthcare settings, including measuring and reporting results.
Chung joined SmithGroupJJR in 2005 and is a principal in the firm. She has been involved in a range of healthcare projects spanning community hospitals to major academic medical centers. Recent programming and planning projects include Banner Health’s Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City West, Ariz.; Sutter Health/California Pacific Medical Center’s Cathedral Hill Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital in San Francisco, Calif.; and work with the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif. International experience includes programming and preliminary design services for the 775,000-square-foot Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, a national center of excellence providing comprehensive care and surgical needs to patients in New Delhi, India.
