Global architecture and design practice B+H has appointed Michele Cohen (M. ARCH, OAA, LEED AP, EDAC) as Healthcare Principal in Toronto. Cohen brings three decades of experience designing and delivering innovative healthcare architecture and planning to the firm. The appointment bolsters B+H’s recognized leadership in the healthcare sector.

With a career spanning Toronto and Los Angeles, Cohen has held various healthcare design leadership positions over the past three decades. She has a proven track record developing sustainable frameworks for healthcare and laboratory projects, having delivered more than seven million square-feet of health science spaces throughout her career. Notably, Cohen has unique expertise managing and delivering complex Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) health science projects in Canada and the UK.

Cohen’s portfolio includes: The Ottawa Hospital’s (TOH) New Campus Development project, Niagara Health St. Catharines Site Hospital, St. Michael’s Hospital’s Patient Care Tower and the St. James Town Clinic, Women’s College Hospital, and Le Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM).

"Designing for healthcare requires a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the evolving needs of patients and communities,” says Cohen. “By fostering a culture of excellence and empowering our team at B+H, we can drive positive change and ensure that our healthcare facilities are not just functional but inspiring places of healing.”

In her new role, Cohen will lead the continued growth of B+H’s healthcare practice across Canada and North America, while further solidifying its position as a leading healthcare solutions provider.

The firm’s recent portfolio includes the Patient Support Centre at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto; the Michael Garron Hospital Patient Care Tower in Toronto; the Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook, Newfoundland; and the Mental Health and Addictions Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The Patient Support Centre at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) recently won an Award of Excellence in the “Best Tall Building, Americas” category of the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s annual awards. The Western Memorial Regional Hospital has been nominated for the 2024 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in P3s.

“Healthcare is a cornerstone of our practice and one the most important avenues that we, as architects, can positively impact our communities,” says Patrick Fejér, CEO of B+H. “Future-thinking healthcare design understands that patient needs will change, requiring solutions to evolve alongside the communities they serve. Michele is a wonderful addition to B+H, and I can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish with her at the helm of our healthcare practice.”

In addition to her work, Cohen regularly serves as a guest critic at the University of Toronto’s Daniels School of Architecture and has previously served as a guest critic at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Interior Health program. She holds a Master of Architecture degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (Sci-Arc) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western University.