Global design firm Stantec recently added two key principals to its healthcare team in Phoenix to provide a full-spectrum healthcare practice in Arizona and the greater Southwest region. Matt Lafflam is joining the firm as a healthcare principal architect, while Michael Williams joins as a senior medical planner. The pair have worked together for several years and bring a focus on lean design and construction for the healthcare market, with additional design expertise in modular construction.

As Arizona and the Southwest region grow with an influx of new residents moving from the West Coast—along with the usual seasonal surge of winter visitors—expanded healthcare options are critical to the region’s future. Under the leadership of Lafflam and Williams, Stantec’s healthcare team will focus on delivering projects for multiple clients simultaneously.

“Matt and Michael bring complementary skillsets to drive our growing Healthcare team across Arizona and beyond,” says Jason Smith, Stantec principal. “With a strong working history together, the two of them are a collaborative team—each with unique strengths, which they use to move projects forward. Adding Matt and Michael’s wealth of healthcare experience to our existing integrated-discipline team will benefit clients on projects large and small.”

Lafflam will use his 25 years of experience to focus on the delivery of large, complex projects. He has provided critical leadership and creative solutions for healthcare clients in Arizona and the region for most of his career. Lafflam has experience leading and managing integrated lean project processes, including project pursuit, design leadership, client and contractor relations, cost evaluation, and regulatory compliance.

Recently, Lafflam has led major projects for multiple healthcare providers, including Banner Health, Dignity Health, and Honor Health. Lafflam, a University of Arizona graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, is a registered architect in Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada. He is active in the Lean Construction Institute (LCI), and the Central Arizona Society for Healthcare Engineering (CASHE).

Williams will lead Stantec’s healthcare design teams, with a focus on advanced medical planning and lean design. With more than 30 years of continuous and focused healthcare experience, he has extensive knowledge in programming, medical space planning, and healthcare service market analysis, business, and operational planning. Williams has provided design and consultation on healthcare projects in 18 states and 3 foreign countries.

A graduate of the University of Idaho, Williams is active at a senior level in the LCI, currently serving as the leader of the Arizona Community of Practice. He also sits on LCI’s certification committee and is a member of the National Practice Team. He is engaged in CASHE and is a prolific public presenter on critical healthcare topics.

Learn more about Stantec’s Healthcare practice, which was recently ranked #3 globally by Building Design + Construction in its annual Giants 400 Report, here.