Zigmund Rubel is a technologist and healthcare architect currently serving as a Senior Project Manager at Stanford Health Care. He brings more than 30 years of experience in project delivery and technology implementation for healthcare capital projects, both nationally and internationally, encompassing over 20 million square feet of built space.
Prior to joining Stanford, Zigmund co-founded Aditazz and Forsight Digital. Both firms leveraged advanced technology to predict and demonstrate clinical operations of healthcare facilities before the design process began. His work in India enabled the planning and design of thirty-one cancer hospitals through automation. In China, his efforts optimized clinical services to support the development of a larger research facility. In the US, he has led multiple Emergency Department optimization initiatives, demonstrating how smart space planning can significantly improve patient throughput. Zigmund holds six U.S. patents in software and building products.
Zigmund holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architecture degrees and is a member of the AIA College of Fellows. He is also a founding board member and Treasurer of the Center for Innovation in Design and Construction. In his personal life, he is a husband, a parent to three teenagers, and a dog owner.
Courses
Beyond the Chatbot: What AI Actually Does for Healthcare Design
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 2-3pm ET
Artificial intelligence is transforming the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, yet many professionals remain uncertain about its practical applications. This panel discussion brings together healthcare owners and project delivery professionals to separate the hype from reality. The session will begin by clarifying what AI means for AEC beyond generative chat tools, followed by a data-driven snapshot of current adoption based on a pre-webinar survey of Academy members. Panelists will demonstrate the potential for AI applications in healthcare design and planning, and in particular, discuss how proper AI-assisted code compliance validation and space programming can ensure facilities meet regulatory requirements and support optimal clinical workflows. As AI tools can help identify design deficiencies earlier in the project lifecycle, firms may see a reduction in the number of costly changes thereby improving the overall quality of healthcare environments. The discussion will conclude with practical guidance on how owners and design teams can organize their historical project data today to unlock AI capabilities tomorrow while avoiding siloed point solutions. A live Q&A will ground the discussion in real project experience.