BSA LifeStructures

About BSA LifeStructures

BSA LifeStructures, which now operates under the shortened name BSA, is a national American integrated design firm bringing architecture, engineering, interior design and planning together under a single practice. The firm concentrates on environments where design has a measurable effect on human outcomes: healthcare facilities, higher education campuses and research institutes.

BSA is employee-owned, and the firm links that ownership structure directly to how its teams work, describing a culture in which every team member carries accountability for project outcomes. Its internal shorthand for cross-studio collaboration is OneBSA, reflecting an intent to operate as a single practice rather than a collection of regional offices.

Disciplines and Services

BSA offers a full-service, integrated project team rather than a single discipline, covering:

• Architecture – building design across healthcare, academic and research typologies.
• Engineering – in-house engineering coordinated with the design team from the outset.
• Interior design – interior environments developed alongside the base building.
• Planning – campus and facility planning that establishes need and phasing before design begins.
• Commissioning – verification that completed systems perform as designed.
• Sustainability – high-performance building strategy reducing energy and water use while supporting occupant health.

Having commissioning in house is comparatively unusual for a design firm, and it lets BSA follow a project from planning through to verified operational performance.

Markets Served

Healthcare

Healthcare is BSA's largest market. In June 2026 the firm reached its highest-ever position in the annual Modern Healthcare Construction and Design Survey, ranking eighth among healthcare architecture firms in the United States by volume of healthcare design and construction work. Two registered nurses work on the BSA team, bringing direct patient-care experience into hospital design decisions.

Higher Education

BSA ranked ninth among Top University Architecture Firms in Building Design and Construction's 2025 Giants 400 Report, a record placement for the practice and a reflection of sustained work with colleges and universities.

Research and Science

Research environments form the third pillar, spanning academic research institutes and translational science facilities where laboratory planning, flexibility and building systems performance are decisive.

Representative Projects

Featured work includes the Children's Mercy Research Institute, the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, the Wake Tech Education and Innovation Center, the Cinco Ranch Comprehensive Care Center, and the new IU Health downtown hospital in Indianapolis. The firm also works with Houston Methodist in Texas.

Studios and Growth

BSA operates eight studios positioned to serve clients nationally: Austin and Houston in Texas, Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina, Denver in Colorado, Indianapolis (Carmel) in Indiana, St. Louis (Creve Coeur) in Missouri, and Tampa in Florida. The Houston studio opened in January 2026 as a deliberate investment in one of the most active healthcare and research markets in the country.

The practice has also been recognised as an employer, with its Indianapolis studio placing third in the medium-sized company category of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Indiana awards.

Sustainability Commitments

Sustainability is positioned as part of the integrated design approach rather than a separate service. BSA aims to produce high-performance buildings that cut energy and water consumption, support occupant health and productivity, and contribute to community resilience. The firm is a signatory to the AIA 2030 Commitment, the profession's framework for reaching net-zero emissions in the built environment.

Why BSA Matters to the AEC Industry

For healthcare systems, universities and research institutions, BSA is a useful example of the single-source integrated model: architecture, engineering, interiors, planning and commissioning procured from one accountable team, which reduces coordination gaps on technically complex buildings. Its national rankings in both healthcare and university architecture indicate genuine depth in two of the most demanding building types, and the presence of clinical staff within the design team illustrates a practical approach to evidence-based design that other practices increasingly study.