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John Waugh is design and planning principal at Ellerbe Becket in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. Waugh has dedicated his 40+year career to the design of innovative healthcare facilities for institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Indiana University, the University of Minnesota, the Methodist Hospital, Dubai Healthcare City, and the University of Kentucky. Mr. Waugh's work in healthcare architecture, planning and innovative delivery methods is internationally recognized for the advancement of this challenging building type. Over the course of his career, he has led more than 70 healthcare projects totaling over 17 million square feet, including six that are over one million square feet and two that are over two million square feet. This work exceeds 4 billion dollars in construction cost.

With a background that combines urban design and studies in medicine, Mr. Waugh considers a medical facility similar to a small city. Using urban planning concepts, he works with his clients and teams to develop strategies for medical facility growth, change and renewal. He is always thinking long term. For over 25 years, Mr. Waugh has been Mayo Clinic's master planner and principal, providing the framework for the substantial growth of this storied healthcare institution. He has long advocated the provision of patient-friendly, healing environments that are efficiently staff supportive - while being organized within a flexible, adaptable facility or campus infrastructure to accommodate inevitable growth and change. For Mr. Waugh, the essence of good healthcare design is when planning and design come together to make the building function well, not just the first few years, but for decades. 

Mr. Waugh earned a master of architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a bachelor of architecture from the University of Minnesota. He is a registered architect and was recently elected to the American Institute of Architects' College of Fellows.