Francis Murdock Pitts is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading planners and designers of psychiatric facilities and as a leader in the development of an evidence-based design practice culture in North America
He has consulted on more than 300 projects involving well over 20,000 mental health beds in clinical settings located in in all parts of the United States and Canada. He has served as National Vice President of the American Institute of Architects and as President of both the AIA’s Academy of Architecture for Health and the American College of Healthcare Architects. In his leadership positions in these institutions he has advocated the development of practice cultures that evince evidence-based design. He speaks widely and publishes articles on the lessons that can be learned from exemplary hospitals and the application of research evidence to hospital design.
In recognition of his contributions to healthcare design and in particular for his work for the mentally ill, Frank was honored by The Center for Health Design with their 2018 Changemaker Award.