By Healthcare Facilities Today

DALLAS — Craig Beale, FAIA, FACHA, FACHE, named Jeff Stouffer, AIA, his successor as director of HKS’s healthcare practice, effective January 1, 2014. Beale, who has served as director for the past 12 years, will continue to lead the firm as part of its four-person Executive Committee and oversee its international healthcare practice.

Beale describes the transition as part of a well-established plan to position leadership for the future. “Leaders aren’t appointed, they emerge,” he said. “When selecting the next director, I looked for someone who had demonstrated natural leadership and that was very clearly Jeff. He is very strategic and has built the pediatric practice into one of the largest in the world. He also recognizes our need to be visionary and look to the future, providing our clients with the best in Lean delivery and cost-effective operational facility planning.”

As director of the healthcare practice, Stouffer’s responsibilities include directing group’s administrative, financial, management and strategic planning. Under his leadership, the firm will continue to be a global leader in professional healthcare design services, providing the highest level of services, design, technical expertise and business performance to continue to create environments that enhance the human experience.

Stouffer has dedicated his entire 27-year career to designing cutting edge healthcare facilities in the U.S. and abroad. He believes the fusion of evidence-influenced design and flexible planning principles result in facilities that support the hospital’s mission and the staff’s operational goals.

Stouffer joined HKS in 1985. Beginning as an intern architect, he moved up the ranks through the healthcare design studios. In 2001, he was elected a principal and shareholder. In 2009, he was elected to the HKS Management Council.

HKS, Inc. is a leading architectural design firm ranked among the top six architectural engineering firms, according to Building Design+Construction magazine. Since its founding in 1939, HKS has completed construction projects totaling more than $75 billion in more than 1,263 cities located in 80 countries. The firm operates from 28 offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.hksinc.com or contact Trish Martineck at tmartineck@hksinc.com.