SmithGroup Celebrates Opening of New Trinity Health Livingston Hospital
SmithGroup, one of the nation’s leading integrated design firms, announces the opening of the new Trinity Health Livingston hospital, a four‑story, 174,000‑square‑foot replacement facility in Brighton, Michigan that redefines care delivery for the region. Designed to elevate clinical capability while fostering an intuitive, wellness‑centered experience, the project transforms the campus into a fully integrated hub with inpatient, outpatient and cancer treatment consolidated in one location.
“Our goal was to design a hospital that advances care, improves long‑term efficiency, and deepens community connection, said Ann Kenyon, Vice President, Health Studio Leader at SmithGroup. “Achieving this milestone is incredibly meaningful, not only because we can celebrate the completion of a design years in the making, but because this campus is poised for future growth and will support the health of the community for generations to come. SmithGroup is honored to have helped shape an environment that supports patients and families with clarity, comfort and dignity, while also providing a meaningful home for the teams who care for them."
SmithGroup’s campus plan connects the new hospital to the Trinity Health Medical Center – Brighton, the system’s existing outpatient center, which was renovated to align clinically and operationally with the new hospital. A light‑filled, two‑story connector links the two buildings, guiding visitors into the hospital’s lobby and public amenities. This connector also unifies surgical and clinical departments on the second level, improving operational flow and enabling protected patient movement between Emergency, Radiology and Surgery, allowing the campus to function as a single, seamless care platform.
The new facility centers on a flexible inpatient platform with 56 acuity‑adaptable, ICU‑capable rooms that support changing care needs without requiring patient transfers. Additional upgrades across the hospital and renovated medical center include expanded surgical capacity, an enlarged emergency department to handle patient surges, and additional imaging modalities. New technologies, such as cardiac CT, patient lifts in every room and a campus‑wide pneumatic tube system enhance clinical safety and efficiency.
Architectural details reinforce the design intent and help establish a cohesive campus identity. Rhythmic ground faced masonry subtly references the precast character of the existing facility, creating a sense of continuity. Saxon brick matches the color of the existing building while introducing a refined shift in scale. Carefully proportioned glazing balances function and familiarity, and the site design provides a shared outdoor courtyard and dining terrace that connects the new and existing buildings.
Other site enhancements include reorganized parking and new wayfinding signs to better guide patients and staff and bioretention for improved stormwater management.
The interior experience is defined by a clean, intentional palette, where black metals, soft off‑white tones, and warm wood grains shape the “moments that matter.” Daylight is emphasized as an amenity throughout the building, with expansive glazing framing views to the surrounding natural landscape. A central feature stair draws light deep into the core, encouraging vertical movement and extending the sense of openness established by the light‑filled two‑story connector. This movement is echoed by a four‑story glass‑clad stair adjacent to the staff entrance, serving as both circulation and sculptural expression. A contemplative chapel with a custom backlit metal feature wall offers a quiet moment to reflect located steps away from its gathering space overlooking restored landscape areas and bioretention ponds. The dining area further strengthens this connection to the outdoors linking interior and exterior spaces through a courtyard formed between the existing facility and the building expansion.
Recently opened in April 2026, the new Trinity Health Livingston establishes a forward‑looking model for regional care—one that unites advanced technology, thoughtful campus planning and a design that prioritizes patient experience and community well‑being.
SmithGroup (www.smithgroup.com) is one of the world’s preeminent integrated design firms. Working across a network of 20 offices in the U.S. and China, a team of 1,600 experts is committed to excellence in strategy, design, and delivery. The scale of the firm’s thinking and organization produces partnerships with forward-looking clients that maximize opportunities, minimize risk, and solve their most complex problems. SmithGroup creates exceptional design solutions for healthcare, science and technology organizations, higher education and cultural institutions, urban environments, diverse workplaces, mixed-use and waterfront developments, and parks and open spaces.