"I am excited to join Wold and to be a part of growing the healthcare team nationally. I bring a diverse and deep understanding of healthcare planning, strategy and design from a national level. I thrive on building relationships and delivering healthcare that makes sense to our communities. It is an exciting time for healthcare change, and I am happy to be on this journey with Wold." -Rachel L.H. Bartling, AIA, LEED AP.
Rachel L.H. Bartling joins our team in St. Paul as a Healthcare Principal. With over 22 years of healthcare experience in design, planning, real estate development and construction, she brings creativity and a collaborative spirit to create the best healthcare delivery models for our communities. Rachel received her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Spanish from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and her Master’s in Architecture from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
In her role as a Principal, Rachel will help lead our healthcare teams in strategy and planning efforts with clients. Beyond Rachel’s involvement with clients, she will also serve as a mentor and resource for our team members, helping to navigate the growth of our firm. When asked what brought her to Wold, Rachel says, "I’m excited to be a part of the Wold culture and work with a team that is truly passionate about providing the best possible care for our communities.”
Rachel’s expertise includes leading healthcare projects through Lean Methodologies to bring innovative and sustainable design solutions that provide exemplary patient and staff experience. Speaking to her passion for healthcare design specifically, Rachel says, "This industry is truly a special niche. You can certainly be a good designer, but healthcare designers need to have a significant understanding of both the community's overarching goals and the ever-changing trends and codes in the industry. I enjoy working through these challenges collaboratively by building relationships to produce results that put a smile on the entire community's face." Looking to the future, Rachel is passionate about upcoming trends in healthcare design, including, but not limited to, the induction of telemedicine, the increase of mental health services, the emergence of new technologies, and the integration of "whole health" care versus sick care.
Beyond her work at Wold, Rachel devotes a portion of her schedule to several other organizations. This includes her position as a board member for Allina Health Regina Hospital in Hastings, MN, a committee member for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and a planning commissioner for the City of Edina, MN. Rachel says she is passionate about her involvement in these organizations because it allows her to be engaged at a higher level in
the community and also to provide valuable insights as a designer and healthcare expert. Coinciding with her active involvement, Rachel says it's essential for young professionals to, “Be bold and ask as many questions as possible, learn something new every day, meet as many people as possible, find a champion who will always go to bat for you, and be actively involved and engaged in the industry/community. If you do this, you will have an exciting and rewarding career, no matter what your profession may be!”
Rachel and her husband, who is also an architect, have two kids, Jack (17) and Presley (14), and two giant cats named Winston and Gucci. Rachel's spare time includes hobbies such as cooking, traveling, singing, sports/fitness and jeeping. Originally from Prescott, Wisconsin, Rachel is a lifelong Wisconsin sports fan, other than the Badgers! She says, “Go Gophers!”
Find out more about Rachel below!
If you weren't an architect, what would you be doing?
If I wasn't an architect, I'd pursue being a rockstar or taking over for Martha Stewart.
How would you define creativity?
"Creativity is gathering and understanding all aspects of a need and creating something that brings holistic enjoyment."
Use three words to describe yourself.
Innovative, gregarious and diligent
What type of music is on your workplace playlist?
I love everything from blues to opera, but a few of my favorite genres I find myself listening to are singer/songwriter and pop/rock music spanning the '50s-'80s. I am also a season ticket holder for the broadway series at the Orpheum, so will find showtunes on the playlist as well. I cannot help myself to sing in general, so if I get carried away in the office, unlike a sleeping bear, do not disturb me. You are best to just join in until the song is over.
What's a fun fact about yourself that many people may not know?
I've visited 42 countries and lived in four, including Mexico, England, France and the US.
What is one thing on your bucket list?
The top item on my bucket list is to live and travel on a yacht for a year.
To learn more about Rachel, her experience and insights, visit here. Additionally, you can view our previous editions of Focal Point with Tu-Anh Bui Johnson and Artemis Ettsen. Our series, Focal Point, provides an enhanced glimpse into the individuals that make up our firm.