Intensive Care Unit Design Guidelines Symposium
A symposium from:
The Center for Health Systems & Design
College of Architecture, Texas A&M University
In collaboration with:
- Houston Methodist Center for Critical Care
- Houston Chapter, American Institute of Architects
- Houston Chapter, Association of Medical Facility Professionals
- The Society of Critical Care Medicine
Texas Chapter
Schedule on August 1, 2025
7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast (included with registration)
8:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
Welcome and introductions
8:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Presentation
How were the new ICU design guidelines developed?
Kirk Hamilton, PhD, FCCM, Emeritus FAIA & FACHA
9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Presentation
How will the new ICU design guidelines impact clinical care?
Jodie Gary, PhD, RN
Break
Morning coffee and snacks break
10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Presentation
How do the new ICU design guidelines work with the old ICU design guidelines?
Charles Cadenhead, FCCM, FAIA, FACHA
10:45 a.m to 11:30 a.m.
Panel discussion involving the three morning speakers
Q&A session with the audience
Midday break and serving of lunch (included with registration)
12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Lunch
12:45 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Introduction of ICU guided tours by Faisal Masud, MD, FCCP, FCCM
1:30 p.m.
Guided tours of Methodist ICUs begin (limited places, first come – first served)
End of the event
ABOUT THE TOURS
The guided tours are being framed as a look at the past, the present, and a look into the future of ICUs.
1) PAST: The Fondren Surgical Liver Intensive Care Unit opened in 1979 inside Fondren Brown Building.
2) PRESENT: The Walter Tower Medical Intensive Care Unit opened in 2018 inside the 22-story tower which features 366 patient beds with four intensive care units and state-of-the-art technology.
3) FUTURE: The Virtual Intensive Care Unit opened in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic escalated a digital transformation within intensive care units. Technology enables professionals to manage their patients more efficiently and safely through a comprehensive virtual system that utilizes tailored remote clinical surveillance and data analytics platforms as well as interactive video conferencing.
REMEMBER, the tours are optional, and have limited availability. If you wish to participate, the sign-up list for the tours will be opened to you after you have finished registering for the event.
About the Speakers
D. Kirk Hamilton, PhD, FCCM, Emeritus FAIA & FACHA, is a Professor Emeritus from Texas A&M University. He spent 34 years in the international practice of hospital and healthcare design before spending 18 years teaching design for health at the graduate level. Hamilton is a founding co-editor of the Health Environments Research & Design scholarly journal.
Jodie C. Gary, PhD, RN, is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Texas A&M University. She is the coordinator of the BSN honors program and a TeamSTEPPS master trainer. Her research and publications cover a wide range of clinical practice and nursing education topics. Gary is a former ICU nurse and Emergency Medical Technician.
Charles D. Cadenhead, FCCM, FAIA, FACHA is a retired board-certified healthcare architect. He had a national and international practice focused on teaching hospitals with an emphasis on ICU design. Cadenhead is the second architect ever elected to Fellowship in the American College of Critical Care Medicine.
Faisal N. Masud, MD, FCCP, FCCM serves as Board Member, Houston Methodist Board of Directors, and Medical Director of Center for Critical Care at Houston Methodist Hospital System overseeing 8 hospitals ICU’s and V-ICU. Dr. Masud’s leadership resulted in great improvements in patient care and clinical outcomes, in patient safety & quality, sepsis control, central line infections, ventilator associated pneumonia, surgical site infections, blood transfusions, pharmacy etc. resulting hundreds of lives saved and millions of dollar in cost savings.
Event Location
Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
Continuing Education – 3 HSW CES
The symposium is approved for 3 AIA HSW CES. Just be ready when you register to indicate how you want them awarded: Using your AIA membership number, or receiving a certificate indicating your participation in the event.
The symposium is also approved for self-reporting CME for the Society for Critical Care Medicine.
Symposium Registration
Registration for professionals: $75 Registration for students: $25
Please use either the QR code or the link provided below.
Register for the ICU Design symposium at: https://tx.ag/ICUdesignsymposium
For other questions, please contact the Center for Health Systems & Design at: (979) 845–7009.
Event Sponsors
We extend our sincere appreciation to the following sponsors for their generous support in providing food and refreshments throughout our event! We are grateful for their partnership on this important topic!
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| Breakfast | Mid-Morning Snacks | Lunch |
Hotel Accommodations
The Houston Marriott Medical Center/ Museum District is the symposium hotel. They have set aside a block of rooms for this event, so please make sure to get your room reservation before they are all gone. Please click below to reserve your room:
Book your group rate for SCCM Texas Chapter Room Block
ICU Tour Participation
To sign up for the ICU tours, please click below. Participation is not guaranteed, because tour size is limited.
Submit your request with our online form.