Where Disciplines Meet, Nurses Lead: The PDC Student Design Challenge™

This blog by Dr. Seneca Perri Moore reflects on the 2026 PDC Student Design Challenge and the powerful role nursing students played in an interdisciplinary environment alongside architecture, engineering, and construction peers.

The experience showcased how nurses bring essential strengths—including systems thinking, leadership, adaptability, and a deep understanding of human-centered care—to the design of healthcare spaces. A compelling reminder that nursing is not only vital at the bedside, but also in shaping the future of healthcare environments.

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A Nurse Perspective: Integrating EmPATH units in a 47 hour Design Challenge.

Mariella Marfori, BSN, RN, a DNP Student at University of Florida participated in the 2025 AIA/AAH & ASHE PDC Student Design Challenge™. She learned that she could use her experience as a nurse to not only have a great impact on patient care, but also the hospital staff and the overall built environment.

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48 hours, 4 teams, One Mission: PDC Summit Student Challenge.

48 hours, 4 teams, one mission- design and operationally plan a new facility that rises to the complex challenges of healthcare delivery. During the 2023 PDC Student Design Challenge, students tackled the time-pressured charrette to design a nurse wellness facility for Banner Health (Phoenix, AZ) ahead of the PDC Summit conference.

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After Two Years of Cancellations, the PDC Summit Student Challenge Was a Huge Success!

The Student Challenge was a huge success at the PDC Summit March 18-20, 2022! Students gathered in multi-disciplinary teams from five different universities to creatively solve a design challenge.

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