SimTigrate Student Project Earns 2026 Healthcare Environment
March 2, 2026
A student project developed through Georgia Tech’s SimTigrate Design Center has received one of the most respected honors in healthcare design. Beatriz Vargas, a Master of Science in Architecture (Design and Health) student in the College of Design, has been named a 2026 Healthcare Environment Award winner in the student project category by The Center for Health Design.
Selected through a rigorous jury process from a global pool of healthcare architects, designers, providers, and researchers, the Healthcare Environment Awards recognize innovative new and renovated projects that advance the healthcare built environment. Vargas’s project, The Oasis Rehabilitation Center, was cited by the jury for its “high achievement in innovation and design excellence.”
The award will be presented at The Center for Health Design Awards Ceremony and Changemaker Keynote during the 2026 PDC Summit in Houston on March 10. The project will also be featured in the Spring 2026 issue of Health Facilities Management magazine and showcased across The Center for Health Design’s digital platforms.
A research-driven capstone rooted in collaboration
The Oasis Rehabilitation Center reimagines the Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center as a more supportive environment for older adults, low-income residents, and individuals living with mobility challenges or cognitive decline. Developed as part of the ARCH 4017 Senior Capstone Studio, the project focused on transforming an existing rehabilitation facility into a place centered on dignity, healing, and renewal.
The design proposes converting traditional four-bed wards into semi-private rooms with views of gardens and courtyards, introducing larger windows and outdoor access to bring daylight and nature into daily life, and creating shared spaces that support patients, families, and staff. A redesigned courtyard anchors the project as a central destination within the facility, reinforcing connections to nature and community.
The project was guided by evidence-based research and direct engagement with stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and project partners. It was developed in collaboration with Grady Health System and the architecture and research team at Gresham Smith.
“This recognition is incredibly special to me because it shows that listening to user needs and applying evidence-based design truly makes a difference,” said Vargas. “The capstone experience was fundamental in shaping the project; having direct access to stakeholders and conducting on-site research were the real keys to the project’s success. My hope is that this project demonstrates the care and intentionality we can bring to healthcare environments when we let data and empathy lead the way.”