Episode 70: Kristin Leija, RID, CIDQ, CHID, EDAC, LEED Green Associate, WELL AP — Registered Interior Designer & Certified Healthcare Interior Designer at Perkins&Will (San Antonio, TX)

"When one of us rises, all of us rise." –Kristin Leija on the Healthcare Interior Design 2.0 podcast

Today on the pod, Cheryl sits down—virtually—with Kristin Leija, RID, CIDQ, CHID, EDAC, LEED Green Associate, WELL AP — Registered Interior Designer & Certified Healthcare Interior Designer at Perkins&Will in San Antonio, TX.

Kristin brings big-firm reach with a startup spirit—supporting teams across Texas while anchoring in San Antonio's historic Pearl District. As a post-COVID entrant to healthcare design, she pairs digital fluency with CHID/EDAC rigor and a community-first mindset. 

We talk building credibility without 20 years on the clock, designing for a multicultural city, caregiver realities (including her own), and the rising focus on behavioral health and "living design" sustainability.

What We Cover

• Post-COVID vantage point: translating six-foot spacing, touch reduction, and one-way flows into healthcare planning

• Earning trust early: leading with research, active listening, and co-authoring solutions with clients

• Community + culture → design: how San Antonio's "smallest big city" vibe shows up in wayfinding, lobbies, and public spaces

• Caregiver lens: where do you take sensitive calls, decompress, or bring a child while visiting?

• Behavioral health everywhere: why BH thinking is showing up across non-BH projects

• Futurism in practice: scanning signals, staying curious, and shaping what's next

• Living design: Perkins&Will's holistic take on health, wellness, sustainability, and poetics

Key Takeaways

• Curiosity beats tenure. Showing up with relevant research and good questions builds credibility fast.

• Design the whole journey. Spaces that respect caregivers' needs (privacy, quiet, nooks) change the experience.

• Culture isn't décor. Authentic place-based cues support wayfinding, belonging, and ease.

• Behavioral health is universal. Small, thoughtful interventions can lower stress across all settings.

• Be a futurist. Track signals, share knowledge, and help clients prepare—not just react.

Connect with Kristin Leija

• Email: [e-mail]

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-leija/

Resources & Shout-outs

• Perkins&Will — San Antonio Studio — Kristin's team; community-rooted healthcare design. https://perkinswill.com/studio/san-antonio/ Perkins&Will

• Pearl District (San Antonio) — Historic brewery reimagined as a cultural hub where Kristin's studio is based. https://atpearl.com/ Pearl

• Culinary Institute of America — San Antonio (at Pearl) — Daily energy and inspiration right outside the studio. https://www.ciachef.edu/cia-texas/ Culinary Institute of America

• Fiesta San Antonio — The city's "party with a purpose," celebrating culture and community each April. https://fiestasanantonio.org/ Fiesta San Antonio