People · Podcast guest
Kim Kennedy
Director · Parkin Architects
Kim Kennedy, Principal at Parkin Architects in Ottawa, specialises in healthcare and mental health architecture. Hear her Architecture Social episode.
- Current role
- Director
- Practice
- Parkin Architects
- Location
- Ottawa, Canada
- On the podcast
- 1 episode · 2025
The story so far
The path behind Kim's work.
Kim Kennedy is a Principal at Parkin Architects, based in the firm's Ottawa office. She specialises in healthcare architecture, with a particular focus on mental health facilities and emergency psychiatric assessment and treatment environments.
A graduate of the Technical University of Nova Scotia, Kim worked across corporate, interior and residential projects early in her career before moving into healthcare design, where she found her specialism. Alongside her project work she mentors emerging architects within the practice and has taken part in healthcare design studio reviews at Carleton University.
Episode 0244 · Architecture Social · 37:48
Can Architecture Really Heal? Discover the Impact with Kim Kennedy
Healthcare architecture is not just about technical compliance. It affects dignity, treatment, safety, mental health and how people experience some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Inside the conversation
6 moments to start with- 01
00:00 · Introduction and overview
- 02
01:02 · Meet Kim Kennedy from Parkin Architects
- 03
01:56 · Kim's journey into healthcare architecture
- 04
04:49 · The evolution of healthcare architecture
- 05
07:04 · Mental health and architecture
- 06
09:32 · Parkin Architects' healthcare projects
Profile in brief
The work and context behind Kim's conversation.
- Current role
- Director
- Practice
- Parkin Architects
- Location
- Ottawa, Canada
Continue exploring
Meet the practice behind the work.
Parkin Architects is a Canadian practice specialising in healthcare and mental health design, with offices in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver.
- Ontario
- Healthcare
Podcast · moments that play
Start where the idea starts.
- 01:02Kim Kennedy · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Meet Kim Kennedy from Parkin Architects
- 01:56Kim Kennedy · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Kim's journey into healthcare architecture
- 04:49Kim Kennedy · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
The evolution of healthcare architecture
- 07:04Kim Kennedy · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Mental health and architecture
- 09:32Kim Kennedy · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Parkin Architects' healthcare projects
- 18:18Kim Kennedy · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Career advice for aspiring healthcare architects
Selected work from Parkin Architects
Three projects, one connected practice.
A closer look at the practice’s work
Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction
A 217,000 square foot LEED Gold healing centre in Coquitlam combines recovery units, natural light and culturally grounded spaces.
View project →Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre
A 134,000 square foot Halifax outpatient centre combines clinical capacity with a double-height glazed Great Hall.
View project →Royal Inland Hospital
A two-phase Kamloops patient-care programme renews hospital departments around a nine-storey tower.
View project →