HKS Expands Western Health Practice Leadership
Design firm HKS has appointed Arthur Brito and Wael Batal to expanded leadership roles within its Western health practice.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in People
The design firm HKS is bolstering its Western Health practice by promoting Arthur Brito and Wael Batal to key leadership positions. These appointments are designed to address shifting healthcare delivery models and evolving patient expectations across the region, including in California.
Why it matters
As modern healthcare needs change, firms must adapt their architectural strategies to support new patient expectations and care delivery models. This expansion aims to integrate advanced design technologies with strategic hospital administration expertise to better serve complex medical environments.
Arthur Brito brings 25 years of experience in healthcare planning to his new role, while Wael Batal has completed more than 40 projects across 20 countries. These figures underscore the depth of expertise HKS is positioning within its Western team.
The players
Arthur Brito
He is a Partner and Regional Practice Director at HKS who previously helped build the firm's health practice in Miami.
Wael Batal
He is a Vice President and Sr. Designer at HKS with extensive experience managing international healthcare infrastructure projects.
HKS
This global architecture and design firm specializes in the planning and construction of complex healthcare facilities.
The details
Arthur Brito, serving as Partner and Regional Practice Director, will utilize his background in hospital administration to link organizational goals with architectural design. Wael Batal, now Vice President and Sr. Designer, will leverage his international experience to implement emerging design tools and technologies in new clinical spaces.
Timeline
HKS announced the leadership expansion on October 16, 2026.
Market Landscape
This leadership expansion reflects a broader industry movement to integrate clinical operational expertise directly into the design process. By aligning organizational priorities with architectural execution, HKS aims to maintain a competitive advantage in the specialized health infrastructure sector.
For healthcare administrators and clients in California, these changes suggest a refined approach to facility planning that emphasizes operational efficiency. Clients can expect design solutions that more closely mirror the evolving demands of modern patient care and administrative workflows.
The takeaway
Design firms are increasingly shifting toward leadership models that combine technical architectural skill with high-level hospital administration experience. This hybrid approach is essential for delivering modern medical environments that meet both clinical and financial requirements.
Further reading
For more on professional shifts in the region, visit the California People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
