PANEL DISCUSSION
Ryan Conover, The Lighting Practice | Mary Alcaraz, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia | Adam Stock, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital | Kyle Houser, TLC Engineering Solutions | Bill Andes, Ballinger | Tommy Nichola, Acuity Brands
Location: Sutton North
Tuesday, April 13, 2027
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm ET
Credits TBD
Intermediate
The strongest healthcare projects have meaningful partnerships between healthcare clients, architects, engineers, lighting designers and all disciplines in every stage of a project. Gathering all those project partners, this panel will address how teams can balance patient experience, operational and maintenance needs, design intent and budget, while identifying common points of disconnect and opportunities to improve coordination throughout the project process. Panelists will also discuss how lessons from occupied spaces can inform future projects, what teams can prioritize when budgets are tight, and how keeping the end user at the center can lead to more successful healthcare environments.
Attendees will benefit from a basic understanding of LED fixtures versus other lighting solutions.
Learning Objectives
- Attendees will understand the value of early and ongoing collaboration among healthcare clients, architects, engineers, lighting designers and the broader project team.
- Attendees will examine how project teams can balance and prioritize design goals while navigating installation, budget and project realities.
- Attendees will be able to identify common points of disconnect within the project process and discuss strategies for improving communication, coordination and decision-making.
- Attendees will be able to apply lessons learned from completed and in-use healthcare environments to inform future projects and keep the needs of end users at the center of design decisions.
Speakers
Ryan Conover
Associate Principal; Director of Light + Health
The Lighting Practice
Ryan Conover, EDAC, Design IALD, is an Associate Principal at The Lighting Practice and is the firm’s leader of Light + Health, where he researches the latest lighting technologies and evidence-based design strategies to implement in his healthcare lighting design. Ryan develops architectural lighting design solutions for the built environment that meet energy and safety codes, balance aesthetics, and support human health. He is committed to supporting clients and the design community with comprehensive reviews of data and human-centric lighting approaches.
Mary Alcaraz
Senior Project Manager
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Mary Alcaraz, PE, LC, SASHE, a Senior Facilities Project Manager with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has over 30 years’ experience in the design and construction of healthcare facilities. She has written numerous articles, won awards for designs, and spoken internationally on healthcare lighting and infrastructure topics. She is a member of the American Society of Healthcare Engineer’s (ASHE) Members Tool Committee, HFMADV, and the Illuminating Engineering Society’s IESNA Healthcare Committee.
Adam Stock
Project Manager for Facilities Design & Construction
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Adam Stock is a Project Manager for Facilities Design & Construction at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where he manages large-scale healthcare projects from design through completion. Drawing on more than a decade of engineering and construction experience, he specializes in delivering complex hospital environments that support patients, clinicians, and facilities operations. Adam is currently involved in the delivery of NewYork-Presbyterian's new ground-up Beacon Building project, helping shape a next-generation healthcare facility that integrates innovative design, advanced building systems, and top-quality patient-centered care.
Kyle Houser
Principal
TLC Engineering Solutions
Kyle Houser, PE, LC, is a Principal at TLC Engineering Solutions in Philadelphia, where he leads the electrical engineering for complex healthcare projects. Since joining TLC in 2019, he has supported more than 400 healthcare facilities across acute, behavioral health, and ambulatory settings. Kyle specializes in high-performance electrical systems, smart building integration, and resilient infrastructure that aligns sustainability goals with operational needs. He is known for applying IPD and Lean principles to support early design decision-making and close collaboration with owners, designers, and builders on fast-track healthcare projects.
Bill Andes
Associate Principal
Ballinger
Bill’s valuable experience in design, documentation, and construction administration has helped him play key leadership roles on many of Ballinger’s most prestigious projects, including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, The Middleman Family Pavilion, and Roberts Children’s Health.
Tommy Nichola
Business Development Director – Healthcare
Acuity Brands
Tommy is the Senior Business Development Director for Healthcare under Acuity Brands Lighting specializing in behavioral health, healthcare, and strategies to contribute to positive patient outcomes. Tommy has grown into his role as a 14-year professional in the lighting industry, serving on the IES Healthcare Facilities Lighting Committee. His areas of expertise include behavioral health lighting, the needs of healthcare specialty spaces, and a dedication to developing solutions to expedite patient healing. Tommy earned his Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification through the Center for Health Design.