Gary Owens among 6 Outstanding Alumni Honorees at Texas A&M College of Architecture

Gary Owens, one of six former students from the Texas A&M College of Architecture who have distinguished themselves as leaders and humanitarians in their respective fields, will be honored as an outstanding alumnus of the college at a banquet in November.

Owens, who earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design in 1975 and a Master of Architecture in 1976, is a principal at FKP | CannonDesign, where he leads the design of healthcare facilities in the U.S. and abroad that improve patient outcomes, reduce medical errors and accommodate evolving healthcare models.

A member of the American Institute of Architecture’s College of Fellows, Owens employs sustainable, Evidence-Based Design principles and Lean planning methodologies to create full-service acute care hospitals, children’s hospitals, cancer treatment centers, ambulatory care facilities and medical/professional office and education buildings.

“His work has uplifted the lives of millions and is a model for other architects specializing in healthcare facilities and cancer care design around the world,” said Diane Osan, FKP chairwoman of the board and CEO.

Owens’ design of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Mays Clinic in Houston, Texas set a new standard for patient-focused care facilities, said center representatives. The clinic was also recognized as a top facility by the Center for Health Design.

His projects have earned more than two dozen local, regional and national awards, including three Beacon Awards from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, which recognizes positive and supportive work environments that improve patient care.

As part of Owens’ commitment to the future of healthcare design, he regularly guides young FKP architects through the complexities of care delivery spaces and challenges them to think beyond current trends.

He also helps shape healthcare design education at Texas A&M as a member of the Center for Health Systems and Design’s Health Industry Advisory Council.

Owens is a frequent lecturer in the center’s Architecture-For-Health Lecture Series, a regular presence at healthcare studio critiques and a coordinator at FKP group presentations to students, who receive professional feedback on their designs and see professional healthcare architects’ work.