Drawn to architecture from a very young age after watching his father build houses through his whole childhood, Jerald completed his Bachelor of Environmental Studies and Master of Architecture at the University of Manitoba after which he joined ft3, initially as an Architectural Intern. Now, as Principal at ft3, Jerald provides leadership and technical expertise on an extensive array of healthcare projects. He is the Healthcare Lead at ft3 with 25+ years of experience in healthcare environments, including specific experience in procedure rooms, renovation projects, operations, and working knowledge of all related CSA requirements. In addition, Jerald has significant experience on acute care and geriatric care renovations and new builds.

He has a passion for healthcare design beginning with his graduate thesis on long-term care homes more than two decades ago that has continued throughout his professional career. Jerald is a strong advocate of using design to improve the lives of those it impacts, and his contributions to revolutionizing long term care homes like Rest Haven in Steinbach and Boyne Lodge in Carmen has shifted the philosophy from just sustaining lives to enhancing them.

Some of his other notable projects include St Boniface and Grace Hospitals’ Emergency Departments, the high rise residential complex 300 Assiniboine, and Canadian Mennonite University’s Marpeck Commons. To him, good design is clean and simple and has the capacity to not only effect behavior but also refine it. Jerald sees transparency in healthcare architecture having the ability to transform the lives of dementia patients and how we navigate healthcare facilities during a pandemic, reducing segregation and deficiencies and increasing efficiency and communication.

Outside of work, Jerald leads his life a as husband, father, and grandfather and enjoys kayaking, biking, and spending his free time at the lake.