CATHERINE CERVANTES MORRISON
Gresham Smith
SAY IT LOUD - North Carolina Exhibitor
North Carolina Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
The people that eventually use the spaces we design inspire me. While I could never fully put myself in the shoes of healthcare professionals or certain patients, I want to create the best spaces for them to do their jobs and keep people healthy.
CATHERINE CERVANTES MORRISON
Bio:
The great designer, Catherine Morrison is an architect and active member of the community. She servers on the board of directors of Loaves and Fishes and is currently the Vice President of the NC Board of Architecture. She volunteers on NCARB committees and is Secretary/Treasurer of Region 3. Cathy has been honored in Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 under 40 in 2014. Her design ethos is informed by her passion for healthy communities and believes that all things can be more than the intended use when designed well.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I was an ‘art major’ in high school, but also excelled in math, so someone told me to look into architecture. But I don’t think I was fully convinced until I was at my first ribbon cutting and seeing the final product of a lot of hard work!
What do you do?
I am a healthcare architect at Gresham Smith and lead business development strategy for our Charlotte/Richmond healthcare studios. I am also a mother of two wonderful kiddos.
What excites you in the work you do?
Creating the built environment is a team sport and I love collaborating with people. It takes as much listening as creativity to come up with solutions to solve our clients’ needs.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
The people that eventually use the spaces we design inspire me. While I could never fully put myself in the shoes of healthcare professionals or certain patients, I want to create the best spaces for them to do their jobs and keep people healthy.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
Every project is an accomplishment, but I think the proudest moments throughout my career have been when someone I’ve mentored has achieved their goals. I‘ve had great mentors along the way, and I love that I am able to pay it forward.
Featured Project Name:
Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center
Featured Project Location:
Winston Salem, NC
Featured Project Completion Date:
2023
Role in Featured Project:
Architect of record for several projects
Featured Project Description:
This project is a multi-phase master plan implementation for Forsyth Medical Center, NC’s 4th largest hospital. This includes upgrades to existing inpatient units, outpatient clinics, and support spaces, and the design of a new critical care tower that also expands surgical services. The new addition is designed for future vertical expansion and connectivity to the existing hospital for clinical flexibility and growth, continuing state-of-the-art care for our state’s most vulnerable patients.
