Designing Spaces That Heal: Meriem Merbai’s Vision for Healthcare Architecture
World Architecture Day is more than a celebration of structures. It is a testament to the strength of ideas, the resilience of design, and the responsibility we carry in shaping tomorrow. Few embody this vision more clearly than Meriem Merbai, MRAIC, RHFAC Professional, PMP, Design Team Lead with Build Nova Scotia’s Healthcare Infrastructure team.
From her earliest years, Meriem saw architecture not simply as the creation of buildings but as the design of environments where people live, heal, and connect. “Architecture felt like a natural path because it blends creativity with problem-solving,” she explains. “For me, becoming an architect was about using design as a tool to improve people’s everyday lives.”
Her passion for healthcare spaces emerged during her final academic project – an award-winning hospital design. That achievement became a catalyst for her career, leading her to healthcare projects in Algeria, her home country, before bringing her expertise to Canada. Along the way, she combined her architectural background with project management and accessibility training, deepening her ability to deliver complex, people-centered projects.
In January 2025, Meriem joined Build Nova Scotia and quickly became an integral part of the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project (HIEP) – one of the most transformative healthcare projects in the province’s history. As Design Team Lead, she works at the intersection of technical precision and human-centered design. Her role includes ensuring compliance with healthcare standards, embedding accessibility principles, and weaving functional planning into a vision that prioritizes healing and dignity.
Most importantly, she believes design must reflect the people it serves. “I strive to ensure the voices of patients, staff, and physicians are truly heard and reflected in every corner of the environments we are creating,” she says.
Looking ahead to the completion of the new acute care tower in 2030, Meriem dreams of a space that does more than provide medical care. “I want patients to feel comfort, staff to work in safe and uplifting spaces, and physicians to collaborate in environments that spark innovation. Ultimately, I hope the new tower becomes a model of modern healthcare design in Canada.”
For young women considering a career in architecture, her advice is clear: “Embrace your voice and trust your perspective. Diversity in design thinking makes projects stronger. Architecture isn’t just about buildings – it’s about shaping lives. There’s no greater privilege than that.”