Brenna Costello Elevated to Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Architects

SmithGroup is proud to announce that Denver Health Studio Leader Brenna Costello has been elevated to Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA).  

ACHA grants board certification to architects who demonstrate deep expertise in healthcare design through a rigorous exam and professional portfolio. It is the only specialty certification recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is also recognized by the American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association (AHA).   

This prestigious recognition reflects Brenna’s unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare architecture through design excellence, leadership and mentorship. With two decades of experience, she has spearheaded the planning and design of more than 100 healthcare projects across the country. Her portfolio includes nationally recognized rehabilitation centers such as the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Craig Hospital and Rancho Los Amigos. She has also led major hospital expansions for leading health systems including AdventHealth and CommonSpirit. Her approach integrates rigorous medical planning with human-centered design, enhancing both patient outcomes and the overall care experience. 

Beyond her project work, Brenna served on the AIA Academy of Architecture Health (AAH) board from 2016 to 2022, including as President in 2021, and helped launch the Colorado AIA/AAH chapter. She also co-founded Women in Healthcare chapters in Washington, D.C. and Denver, dedicated to advancing women in the healthcare industry while giving back to the community through support for families, children, and underserved populations. 

As a national healthcare design expert, Brenna has presented at industry conferences, served on expert panels and been published in Healthcare Design Magazine, Building Design + Construction and the peer-reviewed Critical Care Nursing Quarterly. She also contributed a chapter to Architecture and Health, Guiding Principles for Practice.” (2019). Her accolades include Building Design + Construction 40 Under 40 (2016) and Denver Business Journal’s Most Outstanding Women in Business (2023). 

Brenna’s leadership continues to elevate SmithGroup’s national presence in healthcare design. Her dedication to research, post-occupancy evaluations and mentorship continues to shape the next generation of healthcare architects.  

Brenna was formally inducted during the annual ACHA Luncheon at the Annual Summer Leadership Summit in Denver in July.