SmithGroup, one of the nation’s leading integrated design firms, has hired Walter Marks, II, AIA, as a principal and health studio leader at its Dallas office. In his new role, Marks will collaborate with experts across the firm’s Health Practice to deliver integrated planning and design services to clients throughout Texas and the Southwest.

“The COVID-19 pandemic was a tremendous shock to the healthcare system and industry leaders are rethinking how to enact meaningful change,” says Wayne Barger, director of SmithGroup’s Health Practice. “Walter is the ideal design partner for our healthcare clients in this moment. He has a comprehensive understanding of the industry and a commitment to finding creative, efficient solutions that contribute to patient outcomes and staff satisfaction.”

Marks has focused his career on designing advanced healthcare environments as both an architect and medical planner. He has more than 30 years of experience directing the design and delivery of hospital and healthcare facilities in the U.S. and internationally.

He comes to SmithGroup from Jacobs, where he served as a Principal and Senior Project Designer focused on healthcare. He has delivered imaginative solutions for diverse clients including King Khalid Medical City in Dammam, Saudi Arabia; St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana, Texas; Texas Health Resources in Arlington, Texas; Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dallas and Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.  

“Walter is an incredible asset to our Dallas-Fort Worth healthcare clients,” states Jay Rambo, director of the Dallas office. “He is passionate about envisioning sustainable and functional solutions for complex healthcare facilities and has the leadership skills needed to bring them to life.”

SmithGroup’s Health Practice has created design solutions for a diverse group of healthcare clients in Texas including Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, CHRISTUS Health System in Irving, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Houston.

Marks earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. He is a registered architect, a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the American College of Healthcare Architects.