Arch4Health Honors Skaggs, Sprague with Lecture Series
The Texas A&M Department of Architecture renamed its Architecture for Health (Arch4Health) Lecture Series to honor the profound legacies of former students Ronald L. Skaggs ’65 and Joseph G. Sprague ’70.
Now titled the “Ronald L. Skaggs and Joseph G. Sprague Architecture for Health Lecture Series,” the program recognizes the decades-long contributions of these pioneering leaders who helped shape Texas A&M’s acclaimed “Architecture for Health” program.
“Naming the Architecture for Health Lecture Series after these two highly experienced and internationally known architectural practitioners gives our program and the lecture series even more credibility,” said George J. Mann, Texas A&M professor emeritus of architecture.
Founding the Lecture Series
Since 1965, the Department of Architecture has hosted visiting lectures exposing students and faculty to the emerging intersection of architecture, medicine and public health. Created by Mann, the series initially gave guest speakers the freedom to choose their topics, providing timely insights into a rapidly evolving field.
In 2018, the lecture series was formally organized as the Architecture for Health Lecture Series under the Center for Health Systems and Design (CHSD). Mann said the program adopted a more structured, thematic approach, with faculty selecting a central theme for each semester.
After the lecture series was formalized, it partnered with KAMU TV and PBS to record and broadcast the lectures weekly. Every lecture since 2018 is archived and accessible worldwide. Over 140 lectures are available for free on the PBS website.
Industry Leaders in Health Design
Skaggs and Sprague, two of the “Architecture for Health” program’s most influential graduates, elevated its global reputation through decades of leadership and award-winning healthcare design, planning and construction with HKS Architects in Dallas.
Skaggs joined HKS in 1972; Sprague followed in 1982. Both became central figures in the firm’s internationally recognized health facilities practice. Under their leadership, HKS designed more than 1,000 hospitals worldwide, setting new standards in healthcare architecture.
While their careers often ran in parallel, each brought distinct leadership to the profession.
Skaggs, now chairman emeritus of HKS and adjunct professor of architecture at Texas A&M, focuses on strategic planning, hospital design and advocacy for evidence-based architecture. He received Texas A&M’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1998, the university’s highest honor for a former student.
Sprague, now a principal emeritus of HKS, founded the Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI), which develops the standards used in healthcare facility design across the U.S.
Both said they attribute their careers’ success to the foundation they learned at Texas A&M. “None of that could have been achieved without the values developed through my education,” Skaggs said.
A Lifelong Bond
Despite demanding careers, both have maintained a strong connection to Texas A&M.
“As I advanced in my career, I had a burning desire to stay close to the program, connecting with students over the years and the professors who taught them,” Skaggs said.
As advisory teaching partners, they have enriched the architectural research and design studio by introducing real-world healthcare projects. Notable examples include the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the National Taiwan University Cancer Hospital in Taipei and the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.
“They both graduated but never left Texas A&M University,” Mann said.
In addition to offering mentorship and academic support, Skaggs and Sprague made significant financial contributions to the program. Together, they endowed the Skaggs-Sprague Chair in Health Facilities Design, supporting long-term faculty leadership.
Skaggs also established the Ronald L. & Sondra Skaggs Endowed Professorship and is a major donor to the George J. Mann Chair in Health Facilities Design. Sprague, founder of the Sprague Foundation, also contributes substantially to the Mann Chair.
Their investments have sustained the program’s academic excellence and expanded opportunities for faculty and students alike.
Expanding Reach and Accessibility
Looking ahead, the lecture series aims to become even more accessible, according to its director, Dr. Roxana Jafari. Organizers are working to offer continuing education credits for professionals who view recorded lectures and complete online assessments.
They also plan to enhance the lecture archive by categorizing past lectures by topic, upgrading video quality and adding searchable features to help users find relevant content more easily.
