AJ Thomas

Phoenix, Arizona USA

Growing up, AJ found himself drawn to math and art but had no desire to be a numbers-driven engineer or a starving artist. “Architecture was a happy middle ground,” he says, “and the fact that I grew up on construction sites (my dad was a home builder) helped me with making that decision.”

Architecture — which he refers to as “a creative problem solving discipline” — has allowed AJ to combine his passion for creativity with his critical-thinking skills. Over his 20-plus-year career, he has put his strategic expertise to use planning and designing spaces that “elevate the healing environment.” As the healthcare sector leader, AJ supports and oversees the development of our national healthcare practice, with a focus on thought leadership, growth, and client engagement. One of 14 board-certified Healthcare Architects in Arizona, AJ has focused on providing evidence-based design for hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, and specialty centers of excellence. In 2019, he was part of the Corgan team selected for the 2019 Hospice of the Valley Dementia Fellowship.

Named one of the top architecture leaders in Arizona in 2021, AJ derives the greatest sense of achievement from his children. “I love raising my two boys with my wife,” he says. “To see them grow into mature adults is rewarding beyond measure!”