2025 HEALTHCARE FACILITIES SYMPOSIUM & EXPO REPORTS LARGEST WEST COAST EDITION IN 15 YEARS MARKING 20% GROWTH IN ATTENDANCE AND EXHIBITORS
October 2, 2025
Media Contact:
Sophia Lapat
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Designing Tomorrow’s Healthcare Environments: 2025 Event Bring Together Visionaries in Healthcare Design
San Diego, CA (October 2, 2025)– On September 24-26, thousands of manufacturers, architects, designers, engineers, contractors and healthcare leaders united at the San Diego Convention Center for the 38th annual Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo, one of the country’s largest shows dedicated to healthcare design and facilities. The event marks its largest and most successful West Coast edition since returning to the California area. HFSE was jam-packed with awe-inspiring programming including three Keynote Presentations and 60+ Conference Sessions featuring industry leaders, the latest innovations from 100+ Exhibitors in the Expo Hall and Networking Events, Symposium Distinction Awards, McGrath Outpatient Pavillion Facility Tour and much more.
“The 2025 Symposium & Expo exceeded all expectations — bringing together the brightest minds in healthcare design, sparking bold innovation, and strengthening connections. This event truly reflects our vision of transforming care environments through collaboration, creativity, and purpose,” said Jenabeth Ferguson, Vice President, Symposium Director. “It’s an exciting time in healthcare design and we look forward to see what the future holds for HFSE in 2026!”
Conference Sessions and Keynotes
The Symposium featured three days of 60+ educational and insightful sessions, case-studies and panels meant to inspire and improve current and future healthcare facilities. The sessions spanned multiple topics including sustainable and resilient infrastructure, discussions on the integration of AI and smart technologies in hospital settings, and case studies showcasing cutting-edge facility designs that prioritize patient outcomes and staff efficiency.
The ever-popular Keynotes included para-triathlon gold medalist turned motivational storyteller and healthcare advocate, Oz Sanchez, delivered an address titled, “Know No Limits”, blending his inspiring journey with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and designing environments that empower patient and provider wellbeing. Renowned author, filmmaker, and technology researcher Ron Galloway offered a bold new perspective to the 2025 Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo on, “You, Multiplied: Compounding Time with AI in Healthcare Facilities”. Industry leader and President of Aesthetics, Inc. Annette Ridenour, recognized for her strategic innovations in healthcare engineering and infrastructure, delivered the event’s closing keynote titled, “Creating Healthcare Facilities that are Loved-‘Of the People, By the People, For the People”.
Expo Hall
The Expo Hall showcased the most innovative products and services in the healthcare facilities industry from 100+ top manufacturers and solution providers. Many exhibitors launched new products at HFSE, getting in front of important decision makers from healthcare facilities, architecture and design firms. The Expo Floor also featured two Design Solutions Theaters where the design team galleries came alive with 15 minute mini-presentations by leading architectural firms.
“HFSE 2025 was a fantastic opportunity to engage with caregivers and architects who share a passion for advancing behavioral and mental health environments. At Pineapple, we believe the environment itself can serve as a form of treatment, and it was inspiring to see so much enthusiasm for solutions that de-institutionalize care and create more normative, human-centered spaces.” Daniel White, Principal, Pineapple
“Our team at Cumming Group was pleased to be able to reconnect with long-standing partners and forge meaningful new relationships at the Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo in sunny San Diego. The event offered excellent programming and valuable sponsorship opportunities that allowed us to showcase our expertise and strengthen our brand presence.” Rachel Smith, Marketing Director, Cumming Group
“HFSE is one of our favorite conferences every year. The beautiful setting in San Diego certainly fueled the collaborative spirit and reaffirmed how important it is to listen to every voice in the room when designing furniture that truly solves challenges in patient spaces. This show allows us to hear from a variety of perspectives, all whose main objective is improving healing environments. “ Emily Wentz, Wieland Healthcare
“Exhibiting at HFSE was an exceptional experience. We learned from top leaders in healthcare design, connected with the right people across design and facilities, and enjoyed the social events that made the show so engaging. It was a great opportunity to showcase our products while being part of the conversations shaping the field.” Kevin Claffy, Strategic Sales, Cortech
Symposium Distinction Awards
The annual program recognized design teams, projects and individuals who have made a profound contribution to the healthcare design industry. In addition, it recognized the best and most innovative new products within the healthcare design & construction industry. This year’s winners included: The Team Award was presented to Inova Health Center – Oakville by DPR for outstanding collaboration in healthcare design. The User-Centered Award went to Veterans Affairs Fredericksburg Health Care Clinic, designed by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Inc., for prioritizing the needs of patients, families, and practitioners. The Adaptive Reuse Award honored SAC Health Brier Campus Medical Office Building by Perkins&Will for creatively repurposing an existing space.
The Individual Award recognized Anthony Treu, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP of SOM for his long-term leadership in healthcare design. The George Pressler Under 40 Award was awarded to Sydney Harris of MindCareConnect for her emerging leadership in the field.
In the Product Awards, LIGHTGLASS – Simulated Windows and Skylights won Most Innovative, RAMPART® Fiber by Wolf-Gordon earned Most Sustainable, and the Architect’s Choice went to New Star Lighting’s CompleteCare™ Door Surround Series.
Raffle and Charity Partner
The Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo has a long history of selecting charitable organizations each year, holding a raffle onsite and donating the proceeds to that charitable organization. What started as a small endeavor has grown to a highlight of the annual event with diverse organizations across the country benefitting from the HFSE community’s generosity. Since 2006, HFSE has donated over $217,000 to various charitable organizations. The Raffle continues to be a favorite event for attendees and this year’s beneficiary was Mama’s Kitchen, which strives to help clients stay healthy, preserve their dignity, and keep their families together by providing, medically tailored home-delivered meals and nutrition education – all at no cost. More than $17,000 was raised and counting for Mama’s Kitchen.
Emerging Leaders
The Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo’s Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program started in 2023 and gives recognition to individuals with less than 10 years (non-consecutive) of experience in healthcare design and construction including research and/or education. 35 Emerging Leaders attended the 2025 edition in San Diego, CA and participated in all activities surrounding the event.
For more information about the 2026 Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo taking place in Charlotte, NC (September 28-30, 2026), visit www.hcarefacilities.com.
ABOUT
The mission of the Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo is to create a multi-disciplinary environment that inspires you to evoke change and the advancement of a better delivery of healthcare through the physical space. Competitors, clients, and colleagues come together as friends to collaborate, share research, hear fresh perspectives and participate in the ever-changing conversation of your industry.