J. Armand Burgun Receives FGI’s First Pioneer Award

The Facility Guidelines Institute has bestowed its first Pioneer Award to J. Armand Burgun, FAIA, FACHA.

This award honors an organization or individual who has influenced the future of health care facility design and construction through participation in and support of the mission and vision of FGI.

The award was presented to Mr. Burgun before 110 of his fellow residents and colleagues at the Galloway Ridge CCRC in Pittsboro, N.C., by members of the FGI Board of Directors. [In the photo to the right, Mr. Burgun is third from the left; FGI board members (left to right) are Kurt Rockstroh, Joe Sprague, and Doug Erickson.]

Armand worked on the Guidelines, and prior to that the PHS Minimum Construction Requirements, for more than half a century and was FGI’s first president and the first chair of the Guidelines when it was moved from the federal government to the private sector. His passion for making a difference in how health care facilities are planned, designed, and constructed, focusing on the needs of the patient, continues to be a benchmark many strive to reach.

Armand lobbied and fought for more than 30 years to change the regulations from multi-bed patient rooms to single-bed rooms, and in 2006 he saw that change finally adopted as a minimum standard. His other accomplishments within the Guidelines, while not quite as dramatic, were also groundbreaking and instrumental in making health care facilities more welcoming, patient-centered places.

There was much celebration as Armand received FGI’s Pioneer Award. However, the joy was short-lived as he passed away on November 18, one day short of his 90th birthday.

The FGI Board and everyone who knew him feel that we have lost one of the truly great and compassionate people in our business and the world. Armand lived life to its fullest, even singing in the Galloway Ridge barbershop quartet the day he received his award.

We have lost not only a pioneer but a wonderful mentor, colleague, and friend.