HDR's Justine Baltessen Named a 2026 Healthcare Design Rising Star
Justine Baltessen, ARIDO, IDC, NCDIQ, senior interior designer in HDR’s Ottawa, Ontario, studio, has been named one of Healthcare Design magazine's 2026 Rising Stars.
Recognizing emerging professionals who have begun to distinguish themselves in the field of healthcare design, the 2026 class accepted awards at the 2026 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo Awards Luncheon in New Orleans on Oct. 18, 2026.
Bringing interior design fluency and clinical rigor to develop new approaches to finish transitions, fixture placement, lighting integrating and patient room detailing, Baltessen has become one of HDR’s go-to voices for understanding the complex interior requirements of healthcare environments in Canada. Since joining the firm in 2021, she has focused on mastering technical, operational and regulatory demands unique to clinical environments and is a trusted expert on materials, infection prevention and accessibility standards.
“Healthcare facilities demand extraordinary spatial logic and technical rigor, but above all, they require compassion for every patient, nurse and family member walking through the doors,” Baltessen said. “I am so grateful to HDR, our visionary clients, and especially my brilliant colleagues; your collaboration, shared grit, and dedication to pushing boundaries in design make this work so deeply fulfilling.”
Launched in 2018, Healthcare Design magazine’s annual Rising Star Awards program recognizes newcomers to the healthcare design field with fewer than 10 years of experience.
