PDC Summit

March 8-11, 2026 | Houston, TX 

AIA is proud to be an official supporting organization for the PDC Summit™, bringing together 3,500+ professionals from ALL disciplines of health care planning, design, and construction to advance the health care built environment. Join us to explore what’s next in health care architecture and design, and be part of the conversations that move our field forward.

Add our sponsored sessions and events to your itinerary:

March 8

AIA/AAH Deep Dive

9:00-10:30am CT | $75

Details coming soon.

AIA/AAH Facility Tour

11:00am-3:00pm CT | $75

Details on location coming soon. There is a limited capacity for this event. 

• 11:15 am bus available for pick up.
  • The tour buses will depart promptly at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, March 8.
  • The tour will begin with an orientation at 12 p.m.
• Tour buses will depart the hospital around 2:45 p.m. and return at 3 p.m.
  • Please bring a lunch or snack to eat on the bus, food is not provided.

Decoding the Codes: Navigating Health Care Facility Compliance from Design Through Occupancy

1:00-4:30pm CT  | Member: $275, Nonmember: $375

This workshop, hosted by the AIA AAH Codes and Standards committee, will be a deep dive into the various codes, regulations and standards that govern the design, construction and operational aspects of health care environments. It will directly relate to the health, safety and welfare of the building occupants by discussing the intent behind specific code provisions in health care environments and how they can be implemented. Hypothetical scenarios to illustrate proper code application during facility planning, design and construction will be included throughout the seminar to foster collaboration and integration. 

AIA/AAH & ASHE PDC Student Design Challenge™: Jury/Judging

3:15-4:45pm CT

The PDC Student Challenge is an exciting annual event designed to stimulate critical inquiry, creative ideas and multi-disciplinary interaction between students and design professionals. It highlights the brilliance and innovation of our future health care architects, engineers, construction managers, and nurses. Students from the University of Utah, Kent State University, the University of Texas San Antonio, and the University of Colorado Boulder will bring their creativity and ideas to this fun and evocative design charrette.

During this session, students will present their completed work for critique by a multi-disciplinary jury and the winning team will be announced at the Academy Update.

AIA/Academy of Architecture for Health Update

5:00-5:45pm CT

Join colleagues and friends for an update on the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health strategic plan, as well as other programs and initiatives. Meet the Board and Student Design Challenge teams, network with new colleagues, and catch up with those you already know. The update is open to all attendees.

March 9

AIA\AAH: Healthcare Owners Roundtable: Pressing Issues in 2026

7:00-8:00am CT

The Health Care Owners Roundtable is a platform for health care administrators, operators, and design and construction leaders to openly exchange ideas with each other as well as engage with planning, design and construction professionals. Through a moderated panel discussion and active audience participation, this session will provide opportunities to better understand the pressing issues that are on the owners’ minds. It will create an environment for all participants to learn from each other and help us structure our design and construction industry to serve the needs of health care providers and owners.

AIA\AAH: Leading Medicine’s Digital Leap: Executing Smart Technology Integration at Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital

7:00-8:00am CT

This interactive discussion will explore the various aspects of executing major clinical capital equipment renovation projects and the complex integration of equipment and technology. The panel will provide perspectives following the completion of the Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital which featured smart technology to support the patient and staff experience and promote connectivity of medical equipment and technologies that enable in-room and telehealth capability. Panelists will discuss their journey from planning through opening of the facility and share insights into future technologies. The team will highlight lessons learned including day in the life and post occupancy perspectives following go live. 

AIA/AAH & ASHE PDC Student Design Challenge™: Overview & Winner Presentation

11:00am-12:00pm CT

This session will provide an overview of the challenge designed by AIA/AAH, ASHE and other supporting organizations to stimulate critical inquiry, creative ideas, and multi-disciplinary interaction between students and design professionals. The winning teams', announced the previous day, will present their final projects.

March 10

AIA\AAH: Codes Are Your Friend: Another Fishbowl Session

7:00-8:00am CT

This interactive course will be provided using a ‘fishbowl’ concept, addressing all your questions with a table of experts in our industry. Bring your compliance items, code issues, varying interpretations, and application questions to the table for an open discussion that we can all learn from. Items for discussion including exiting strategies, occupancy classification, door hardware and safety risk assessment are planned to be included!

AIA\AAH: Future-Ready Healthcare Design: Conversations on Integrated Pathways to Net Zero

7:00-8:00am CT

As the built environment moves toward ambitious Net Zero energy and carbon goals, healthcare facilities present unique challenges and opportunities due to their complexity and high energy demands. This session features three mini presentations showcasing strategies for sustainable healthcare design in the U.S., spanning architectural, structural, and MEP systems. Presenters will explore how high-performance building envelopes, passive design strategies, low-carbon structural materials, and advanced mechanical and electrical systems work together to reduce both operational and embodied carbon. A moderated panel will follow, addressing barriers, cost implications, resilience, and lessons learned across project types and regions.

March 11

Closing General Session: Resilience by Design: Preparing Healthcare Environments for Disruption and Disaster

10:45am-12:00pm CT

Healthcare facilities must be equipped to withstand and recover from a wide range of disruptive events—from natural disasters like floods and wildfires to man-made crises such as cyberattacks, violence, and system failures. This plenary session brings together experts from across the healthcare planning, design, engineering, and clinical communities to explore how resilient environments are created and sustained. Through real-world examples and forward-looking strategies, attendees will gain insight into how healthcare spaces can remain safe, functional, and supportive during times of crisis.