As 450 People Move To Dallas-Fort Worth Daily, Healthcare Master Planning Becomes A Never-Ending Priority

With more than 450 newcomers arriving in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro each day, the region’s healthcare systems are under constant pressure to expand, modernize, and plan far into the future.

Unlike typical 10-year outlooks, North Texas health providers are doubling that horizon—designing facilities with 20-year lifespans in mind—to keep pace with explosive population growth.

Speaking at Bisnow’s Dallas Healthcare Summit at the Hilton Anatole, industry leaders emphasized the ongoing need for infrastructure reinvestment, future-proof design, and community-based accessibility.

“Think about the scale of this growth,” said Ian Sinnett, principal at Perkins & Will. “It’s a strength, but also a challenge—causing labor shortages, economic pressures, and supply chain issues both locally and globally.”

Cook Children’s Health Care System SVP Spencer Seals stressed the importance of continuous master planning and choosing partners who understand market dynamics.

“You can’t think short-term. Five to ten years goes by in a flash,” added Sinnett. “We’re now looking at 2040, even 2045.”

That long view is essential, particularly as hospitals deal with aging facilities—some a century old—while new builds must accommodate technologies that haven’t even been invented yet.

Baylor Scott & White VP Charles Shelburne pointed out the importance of adaptable spaces. “Future-proofing means thinking about how these rooms might be used decades from now.”

Even decisions as small as floor-to-floor height can have massive implications for future service lines.

Sinnett emphasized strategic foresight: “We can’t afford to waste money on short-sighted fixes. Mock-ups and long-term planning save money in the end.”

Flexibility also includes wireless technologies and movable components within healthcare facilities, according to Rees Healthcare Leader Michael St. Clair.

“When I walk into a room, I ask: What’s movable? Because we need to stay agile,” said St. Clair.

North Texas providers are pursuing a wide array of strategies to rejuvenate old campuses and develop new ones. But timely procurement of equipment remains a bottleneck.

“You can only move as fast as procurement allows,” Sinnett said. “That’s why decisions must stand the test of time.”

Traditionally slow to adopt innovations, the healthcare industry is now looking to retail and hospitality for inspiration. Apple Store-like concepts focused on wellness and customer experience are becoming part of the vision.

“We’re not just treating illness anymore,” Shelburne said. “We’re building environments for wellness.”

Increasing retail-style access points across communities—especially underserved areas—is also a key focus.

“It’s about reaching people where they are,” said UT Southwestern’s Gena English. “Patients don’t want to visit a hospital just to get an MRI.”

But rapid growth brings new hurdles. Adding a tower to a healthcare campus can take up to seven years—even with a ready site. Without one, projects can drag on for over a decade. All of this planning must account for future disruptions, whether from technology, staffing shortages, or unforeseen health crises.

“The real challenge is provider bandwidth,” said St. Clair. “We need to design systems around quality time with patients, not just quantity.”

To that end, some systems—like Parkland Health—are decentralizing care by opening more community clinics.

“It reduces strain on the main campus and improves access overall,” said SVP Carmen Bowling.

As DFW continues to grow at record speed, its healthcare industry must stay nimble, innovative, and relentlessly forward-looking—because master planning, here, never stops.

Source: Bisnow