Architecture student awarded prestigious Tuttle Fellowship

Ana Sandoval Aguilar, a graduate research assistant for the Center for Health Facilities, Design and Testing, has been named the 2024-2025 Tuttle Fellow by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Academy of Architecture for Health.

Aguilar’s research focuses on labor and delivery spaces in Honduras, aiming to discover how the design of these spaces can improve access to quality maternal and infant healthcare. Additionally, her research aims to develop design guidelines that help create safe, efficient and dignified spaces in resource-limited settings.

“Good examples of healthcare design in settings with limited resources in Latin America are scarce,” explained Aguilar. “My thesis highlights the great need for suitable healthcare spaces for low-income, underserved populations in developing countries.”

She hopes that her findings will serve as a vital resource for governmental and non-governmental organizations to assist in providing improved healthcare for women and infants throughout Latin America and other medically underserved populations worldwide.

Through the Tuttle Fellowship, Sandoval plans to advance her academic and professional career by fostering collaborations with architects, designers and healthcare professionals who share her passion for equitable healthcare design. Most importantly, she is excited about the potential for her research to make a tangible impact in Honduras and beyond, helping more people access the quality care they deserve.

“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as the Tuttle Fellow and grateful for the support from the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health,” said Aguilar. “This fellowship offers an invaluable opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals who are committed to enhancing the built environment for well-being.”