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As an architect specializing in health care projects, Kelly Chanopas has an opportunity to connect with humanity from birth to death.

鈥淚 think what drew me into it was the ability to work directly with people who actually use the buildings we designed and having that connection with the human side,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur ability as designers to impact how people feel gives my work a sense of purpose.鈥�

In her decade with ZGF, her achievements include the 745,000-square-foot Cincinnati Children鈥檚 Critical Care Building Expansion. 鈥淭his building has been purpose-built for how we want to deliver care and for what families expect of us today. Those expectations are much higher than they used to be,鈥� said Dr. Steven Davis, president and chief executive officer.

Chanopas, who earned Green Belt Lean Certification for Facilities Design, said she appreciates working with talented people each day. 鈥淢ost projects I鈥檓 on are usually larger teams, and being able to learn from my colleagues and teammates and develop those relationships on projects that are large and complex is a really rewarding part of being an architect.鈥�

A member of ZGF鈥檚 Diversity Inclusion Advocacy Group, Chanopas developed a Firmwide Culture Survey that delved into crucial aspects such as employees鈥� feelings at work, obstacles they face, and assessing if they felt included and able to be their authentic selves.

Chanopas also co-chaired AIA Oregon鈥檚 Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which initiated a yearly symposium addressing DEI topics within the industry, providing a crucial forum for these discussions.