GINA CHANG
Principal
CO Architects
Gina Chang, AIA, EDAC, is one of the country’s leading healthcare designers. A principal at Los Angeles-based CO Architects, Chang has accelerated healing through design for more than 20 years —especially space optimization, biophilic design, and patient and provider experience. Innovations she helped pioneer include the Universal Patient Room, which allows medical equipment to be brought to patient rooms instead of transporting patients around the hospital, potentially exposing them to germs.
Chang is also an authority on biophilia in healthcare. Her projects prioritize natural light for both patients and providers, even directing natural daylight into operating rooms. Views from patient rooms and outdoor areas of respite are prioritized, extending to green roofs. Select projects include hospitality-inspired features — such as intimate nooks, terraces with views, or private seating with built-in outlets — to make patients and visitors feel welcome. Recently, she has driven caregiver-centric design to improve provider retention and recruitment.