Herminia Machry

Herminia Machry is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Interior Architecture at the University of Kansas. She holds a Master’s in Architecture from USP (Brazil) and a PhD in Planning, Design, and the Built Environment from Clemson University. Her expertise lies in evidence-based healthcare design, with a focus on improving safety, engagement, and cognitive outcomes in healthcare environments. Key research areas include ICU design, operating room layouts, and pandemic-preparedness infrastructure. Recent work includes studies on neonatal ICU family engagement and design of PPE doffing spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her educational background includes a Master’s degree from the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil and a PhD from Clemson University’s School of Architecture. Prior to joining KU, she worked as an adjunct professor at three universities and contributed to healthcare facility design projects in architectural firms. Her professional experience bridges academic research, clinical practice, and design innovation.

Machry’s research emphasizes human-centered design principles, particularly in high-stakes healthcare settings. Her recent articles explore pandemic preparedness strategies, co-design methodologies for assistive technologies, and spatial configurations that optimize clinical workflows. These studies often employ simulation-based modeling and post-occupancy evaluation techniques to assess design efficacy.

While no formal scientific awards are listed, her contributions to evidence-based design frameworks for NICUs, operating rooms, and aging-in-place environments reflect significant scholarly impact. Her work bridges architectural practice with clinical outcomes, aiming to create safer and more supportive healthcare spaces.

Her teaching and research activities at KU focus on integrating health priorities into design education, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration between architects, clinicians, and patients. Current projects include developing decision-support tools for operating room design and evaluating spatial layouts in ambulatory surgical environments.