Healthcare Design - September 2020 - 32

HCD 10

B UI L D I N G
P RO FE S S I O N A L

MARK CHRISMAN
Healthcare practice director, vice president, Henderson
Engineers (Lenexa, Kan.)

University of Kansas Health System Strawberry Hill

KVC Hospitals Wichita

3232

SEPTEMBER 2020

YEAR IN REVIEW: Chrisman immediately recognized that Henderson's specialization in healthcare, as well as experience in markets such as convention centers and sports arenas, could be beneficial to providers navigating the
COVID-19 crisis. He moved to organize the company's leadership team and engineers across various practices to become part of the solution, at one point leading a virtual meeting of 115 employees to formulate a vision and plan. Chrisman
guided solutions ranging from assisting clinics in transitioning their testing areas
for possible COVID-19-positive patients to converting shell spaces into observation units. Working with health systems, architects, and contractors, Chrisman
additionally directed Henderson's charge in creating alternate care sites and devised strategies to deploy temporary modular solutions as well as leverage hotels,
dorms, convention centers, arenas, and auditoriums to assist healthcare systems
pushed beyond capacity. He's also been involved with renovations to support
infection control and social distancing measures and assisted with code compliance issues for temporary testing and exam spaces. Aside from COVID-19 changes, over the last year Chrisman has served as principal-in-charge over fire and
life safety design at several projects in Kansas, including at University of Kansas
Health System Strawberry Hill Campus and KVC Hospitals Wichita. Chrisman
was also involved with American Society of Healthcare Engineers and National
Fire Protection Association technical committees, producing several thoughtleadership and technical pieces on healthcare-related topics.
INDUSTRY IMPACT: Chrisman recognized long before the coronavirus pandemic that flexibility, technology, and infection control are critical hallmarks of
healthcare design. For example, he's an advocate for telehealth, championing
infrastructure that protects patient information all while creating comfortable
and convenient spaces where physicians can treat patients virtually. He works
to help owners vet manufacturers and products to prove the science behind infection control claims and seeks knowledge on technology advancements to
remove touch points and prevent germ transmission. He's also worked with clients on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning solutions regarding infectious
disease transmission. His response to this current crisis is a testament to a career of identifying solutions that will keep building users safe.

HCDMAGAZINE.COM

CANNONDESIGN (UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS); ARCH PHOTO KC (KVC HOSPITALS)

WHO HE IS: A professional engineer with a doctorate in engineering, Mark
Chrisman, PhD, PE, guides the healthcare practice for Henderson Engineers
as well as Henderson Building Solutions, the firm's wholly owned construction
management and commissioning subsidiary that specializes in engineer-led
design-build projects, mostly in the healthcare space. He's a fire protection engineer with technical proficiency in fire and life safety and code consulting, as well.
His passion for learning has also been translated to a role as adjunct instructor
at University of Kansas in the architectural engineering program. However, it's
his expertise in patient isolation room conversions, negative pressure rooms, air
flow considerations, and electrical and medical gas infrastructure that allowed
him to lead Henderson's initiatives tied to COVID-19.
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Healthcare Design - September 2020

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