2024 Ones to Watch Industry Leaders: Bob Ryan, DIGroup Architecture

“As the Principal-in-Charge of DIGroup Architecture’s (DIG) Healthcare Studio, Bob Ryan brings nearly 40 years’ experience to an industry where superior design can and does impact lives. Highly regarded and skilled in every facet of healthcare design, Bob’s intuitive approach to every project yields exceptional, sustainable results.” - Debbie Koehler, Director of Marketing at DIGroup Architecture.

In the last 12 months what accomplishment are you most proud of? As architect of record for a medical college just outside of New York City, we were tasked with modernizing 18,755 s/f of innovation-center space. The existing research facility was the focus of $6.2 million in enhancements, inclusive of creating flexible shared research cores. Our design of these collaborative spaces was integral since activities and data produced at this facility inform the entire medical research community. The project was the seventh for us in cooperation with this university.

In the last 12 months what was one of the biggest challenges you faced as a leader and how did you overcome it? One of the greatest challenges in the healthcare sector for those of us handling far-reaching existing-space renovations – especially reactivated post-pandemic projects this past year or so – is how to maintain ‘near-zero-interruption’ to daily operations. To address this, we’ve created a customized phasing roadmap for generating swing space that syncs supply and labor procurement. The entire process is addressed, tested and verified by us to assure seamless deign integration within the current setting itself.

Best advice for new leaders: Healthcare design isn’t for dabbling – you must go all in.