The 2025 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo (HCD) brought more than 4,000 industry professionals, exhibitors, and thought leaders together in Kansas City for four days of inspiration and connection. This year’s event reaffirmed why HCD remains the most important gathering for architects, designers, and healthcare planners shaping tomorrow’s healing environments.
For Formaspace, the conference offered an opportunity to engage with healthcare and life-sciences leaders eager to explore how furniture innovation supports performance, flexibility, and long-term value. Our booth showcased two central ideas: NextGen Labs—integrated, flexible lab environments that blur the lines between lab and office—and One Manufacturer for All Spaces, emphasizing Formaspace’s ability to furnish every environment from research labs to clinical areas to collaboration zones and more.
What Made Formaspace Stand Out
Our booth drew praise for its clean, purposeful design and storytelling approach. “It gave a good overview of what Formaspace does in a small space,” said Michelle Acamovich, President of Solid Lines. “There wasn’t much competition showing products for lab-type environments, which made Formaspace stand out to dealers, architects, and end users.”
Visitors responded strongly to seeing the range of modular and custom options we offer. Many attendees were surprised to learn how versatile our systems are when paired with modern lab and healthcare designs. “Showing the visitors the 3D printed model seemed eye-opening—it showed that Formaspace could do so much more than they thought,” Michelle added.
Insights from Industry Partners
Our representative partners shared valuable perspectives on what they heard from architects, designers, and healthcare administrators during the event:
- Christy Kalogeras of Work Wellness Group observed that clients increasingly value “modular products that truly deliver custom solutions.” She added that large firms recognize Formaspace’s ability to build what others only talk about—bridging design vision and manufacturable results.
- Joel White from H4 noticed a growing focus on durability with purpose, noting, “Many had great ‘green’ stories—the products were not just reusable but greener to produce, with strong end-of-life plans.” He also pointed to an aesthetic trend: “Wood and natural tones were everywhere—healthcare is embracing the warmth that office spaces did during the resimercial shift.”
- Brian Bromber of Pinnacle Contract Solutions found that design flexibility and modularity remain key drivers, and highlighted opportunities for deeper client engagement through the show’s networking and educational sessions.
Together, these insights reinforced a clear message: healthcare design continues to move toward spaces that are integrated, flexible, and human-centered—and the right furniture partner is critical in making that vision real.
A Collaborative Effort Across Regions
Formaspace’s success at HCD wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our rep community. Alongside the teams above, we also extend appreciation to Tyler Silva and Gary Hurd from Config Spaces, and Darlene Akers and her team from Akers Business Solutions, who brought their clients and energy to the booth throughout the event.
Their collective presence ensured that no matter when an attendee stopped by, there was always an expert ready to discuss design challenges, project needs, and how Formaspace could help. As Michelle Acamovich summarized, “Having so many experts in the booth was helpful—there was always someone available to grab a client and bring them by.”
Key Trends Shaping Healthcare Design
Industry-wide, HCD 2025 spotlighted a few clear directions:
- Behavioral health design and holistic care models were deeply woven into session content, reflecting rising demand for environments that support patient-centric, integrated wellbeing.
- Outpatient and ambulatory settings emerged repeatedly, as healthcare systems move services closer to patients and adopt flexible, modular programs.
- Modular and adaptive furniture systems continue to dominate conversation, reinforcing how environments must evolve alongside care models and multi-discipline teams.
- Durable + sustainable = competitive advantage, a shift away from disposable design toward long-service, repairable solutions—echoing both the show’s education and form‐space’s focus on longevity.
- Research, outcomes and voice-of-stakeholder design were highlighted across many tracks—designers and owners alike are demanding furniture solutions that align with operational, clinical and patient outcomes.
These themes echo the philosophy behind Formaspace’s approach: durability is sustainability, and adaptability drives progress. Our modular furniture is built to evolve with changing programs, technologies, and people — creating environments that last longer, work smarter, and support innovation at every stage.
Looking Ahead
As the industry looks toward 2026 and the next HCD in New Orleans, one thing is clear—healthcare design is evolving fast. From flexible labs to collaborative clinical spaces, clients want partners who understand both design intent and real-world functionality.
Formaspace will continue leading that conversation—bringing together craftsmanship, customization, and proven performance to build environments where innovation thrives.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Kansas City. If you missed the show, you can still explore our highlights and design insights at Formaspace.com/HCD-2025
