Abbie Clary, FAIA, FACHA, LEED AP
Director, Health Practice
I'm passionate about problem-solving for the right solution, not the easy solution, but the one that will positively affect the human condition. I'm motivated toward building teams that not only bring the brain power and creativity to solve for each unique set of problems presented by our clients, but also enjoy what they do, believe in each other, and have passion toward an outcome that will better the business of our clients and the lives of those they serve. This is an exciting time in healthcare to say the least, and I am passionate about helping our firm and our clients navigate successfully toward the future.
Abbie is the chair of CannonDesign’s Board of Directors and the co-leader of our global healthcare practice — focusing specifically on market differentiation, business growth and client engagement. Responsible for overseeing more than $2.5 billion in healthcare projects over the last 22 years, she’s become an expert at helping organizations rethink their strategies and facility investments to better respond to consumer expectations and achieve new levels of business success. Her passion lies in the realms of academic medicine and translational health sciences — helping institutions break down physical and cultural barriers to push innovation and medical breakthroughs forward.
Passionate about women’s issues and equality in the profession, Abbie consistently pursues opportunities to encourage diversity in all of its embodiments; she founded the Women’s Networking Dinners for working professional women within the healthcare industry, attended the 2017 Forbes Women’s Summit, and is dedicated to creating project teams that reflect the diverse organizations we work with. In 2009, Abbie was named to Building Design + Construction magazine’s “40 under 40” list of leaders in the industry, and in 2018, she spoke at the magazine’s Women in Design + Construction conference. In 2021, she was named to Crain’s Chicago Notable Women in Design and Construction and was featured on the Design Lab podcast.
