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EP 02444 November 2025 · 38 min

Can Architecture Really Heal? Discover the Impact with Kim Kennedy

Kim KennedyParkin Architects
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About this conversation

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.

Stephen Drew speaks with Kim Kennedy, Principal at Parkin Architects in Ottawa, about healthcare architecture, mental health facilities, specialist project knowledge and what it takes to build a career in this demanding sector.

The conversation covers:

How Kim moved into healthcare architecture

Why mental health facilities need careful, human design thinking

How healthcare architecture has evolved as a specialist discipline

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Transcript

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  1. · Stephen Drew

    Stephen Drew

    Hello everyone and welcome to this special. Now I'm based in London. However, we are going transatlantic to have this discussion. Now in the uk, if you've been unfortunate or fortunate enough to be taken care of, the healthcare system, that's the NHS. However, it's a big world out there and we are interested in Architecture.

  2. So apart from roles in the UK today, we're gonna talk about healthcare overseas in different countries, what that looks

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Guest · People

Kim Kennedy

Parkin Architects. Guest on episode 0244.

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Practice

Parkin Architects

5 projects on Architecture Social.

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