I qualified as an architect at UCT in 1992 and later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Technology Management from UCT in 2012. I spent nearly 20 years working in the private sector before joining the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness in 2011. Currently, I serve as the Chief Architect, overseeing infrastructure norms and standards across all types of health facilities. My journey in health facility design began in 2003 when I joined BNM Architects, a well-known practice based in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), specialising in healthcare design. I went on to establish and manage their Cape Town branch. At the Department, our current focus is on developing standardised facility and room layouts, as well as materials, fixtures, finishes, and operational narratives for each facility type. Our goal is to provide design and implementation teams with a clearer understanding of the services our buildings need to accommodate. While the Province continues to replace outdated infrastructure with newer, purpose-built facilities, the majority of our projects are focused on upgrading and expanding existing facilities to address rapid population growth and an evolving disease burden. Changing environmental and legislative conditions have also prompted us to reassess the operation of our buildings, particularly regarding engineering services. By applying principles of flexible, salutogenic design, we aim to ensure our facilities are more contextually appropriate, resilient, and cost-effective.