Between the Lines with FGI

Hosts John Williams and Marissa Lamperis Kastrinos sit down with Kirsten Waltz and Ryan Turner, leaders from the 2026 Health Guidelines Revision Committee (HGRC), to preview the physical design updates heading your way and the intent behind them. Designing the next generation of healing environments is an exciting opportunity, and having the right tools makes all the difference. By understanding the intention behind several of the key changes in the 2026 FGI Code for Planning and Design of Hospitals before the launch, you can stay ahead of industry shifts, make better-informed design decisions, and position your projects for long-term success.

There's a seismic shift happening in the codes and standards development legal landscape as courts back away from the longstanding precedent of protecting copyrights. As a result, some entities now post what was protected content, seemingly in partnership with standards development organizations, in order to sell their own products. In reality, standards development organizations like FGI have no oversight on how their code content is used outside of its own platforms and publications. CEO Heather Livingston discusses FGI's unusual approach to making sure that everyone involved in health and residential care design and construction has access to accurate and complete code requirements straight from the source. Sponsored by: American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s2e3-changes-ahead-intellectual-property-rights-and-the-future-of-the-guidelines/ Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ Connect with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter)

This is your chance to weigh in! The change in title from the 2022 Guidelines for Design and Construction documents to the 2026 FGI Facility Code documents is one of several changes you will see during the 2026 draft public comment period (now through September 30, 2024). For this episode, John Williams and Leah Hummel sit down with Bridget McDougall for an overview of the draft changes discussed as part of a presentation they gave at the Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference in Anaheim, CA. From new chapters to revised requirements, hear about the language that you have an opportunity to comment on before the next edition is published in early 2026. Note: This episode was recorded on July 20, 2024, while at ASHE's Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference in Anaheim, CA. Sponsored by: American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s2e1-whats-new-in-the-2026-fgi-facility-code-drafts Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ Connect with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter)

Jane Rohde is affectionately known in FGI circles as "the mother of the Residential Guidelines." Her passion for residential health care facility design and advocacy for the aging and vulnerable populations led to the inclusion of residential health, care, and support facilities in the Guidelines documents beginning with the 2018 edition. In this episode, Jane explains how nursing homes, initially intended for short-term care, evolved into a care model that often widens the gap between "those who have and those who have not." Jane further emphasizes the need for community-centric design, pointing to common design mistakes including poor acoustics in large spaces, inappropriate lighting disrupting circadian rhythms, and lack of contrast in colors leading to falls. Jane also shares why a detailed functional programming process, engaging community stakeholders to identify service gaps and needs, is "the nitty gritty" that she loves the most." Sponsored by: The Facility Guidelines Institute: The keystone to health care planning, design, and construction Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/e10-designing-care-spaces-with-our-future-selves-in-mind-jane-rohde/ Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ Connect with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter)

Unless you're an expert in acoustics, it's likely the acoustic-related requirements in the Guidelines read like a foreign language. Acoustic engineer Mandy Kachur joins hosts John and Bridget to not only talk about the impact noise can have on patient care, but also turn a complex topic into a digestible concept. Various acoustic tables in the Guidelines are explained, touching on speech privacy, speech intelligibility, exterior noise control, and sound isolation. Mandy also cautions designers about the easiest mistake to avoid before the threat of costly retrofits and explains how reducing noise in patient care spaces can be directly tied to reimbursement. Sponsored by: Specified Technologies, Inc.: Your partner in barrier management solutions. Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/e8-the-sound-of-silence-mandy-kachur/ Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ Connect with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter)

In this episode, Bridget and John enter the world of electrical receptacles in patient care areas with electrical engineer expert Krista Biason. They simplify complex regulations, dig into related Guidelines minimum requirements, and emphasize the importance of inclusive planning for functional, patient-centered spaces. Krista's expertise shines as she explains technical nuances, from distinguishing between critical and essential branches to discussing emerging technologies like USB charger outlets. The trio's candid exchanges inject humor, making the topic engaging, as they stress the need for flexible designs that balance functionality with adaptability. This episode is sponsored by Northstar Management Company: "Smart Builds Start With Us." Link to blog: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/e6-its-electric-receptacles-krista-biason Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ Connect with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter)

Infection preventionist Lela Luper joins hosts John and Bridget to explore the critical nexus of facility design and infection control in healthcare. From furr downs to fish tanks and everything in between, today's episode illustrates the often-overlooked hidden dangers in the health and residential care physical environment. Lela underscores the value of including infection preventionists early in design conversations and highlights the importance of being a collaborative partner rather than a rigid enforcer. This episode is sponsored by Northstar Management Company: "Smart Builds Start With Us." Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/e4-infection-preventionists-as-collaborative-partners-lela-luper Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ Connect with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter)

Every hospital, outpatient, and residential facility you've stepped foot in or driven past started with an idea. On today's episode, Ken Cates, cofounder and principal of Northstar Management Company, talks about the importance of not leaping from idea straight to design (as is often the tendency) but instead utilizing the functional program as a way of gathering input from all stakeholders and clearly identifying the purpose of the space. This episode is sponsored by Northstar Management Company: "Smart Builds Start With Us." Episode Show notes with Transcript. Connect with us on LinkedIn & X Have an idea for an episode or a guest? Write to us at [email protected]. Interested in having us mention your company on our podcast? Visit fgiguidelines.org/podcast for information on episode sponsorship. _____________________________________________________ For information on AIA self-reporting LUs click here.