Karri May joins CannonDesign as Global Women and Children's Health Leader

With nearly two decades of experience in design and a significant tenure as a children’s hospital facilities leader, Karri is uniquely qualified to drive innovation and compassionate solutions that truly meet the needs of women and children.

Karri joins us from Connecticut Children’s Hospital, where she held the position of Senior Director of Facilities. Her tenure was marked by significant achievements, including the creation of the Planning, Design, & Construction department, leadership of multiple new construction projects, and a build-out of the hospital’s portfolio using strategic analytics and operations data. Most notably, Karri played a pivotal role in the design and planning of Connecticut Children’s new eight-story clinical tower on its flagship Hartford campus, which is scheduled to open in 2025.

Her well-rounded expertise and experience in pediatric design make her a champion of our Whole Child, Every Child approach, which seeks to elevate the voices of women, children, and their caregivers and shape spaces that not only cater to physical needs but also prioritize emotional, social and cognitive development.

CannonDesign's Women and Children’s Health Practice stands at the forefront of innovation and compassionate care, a legacy that Karri is poised to propel into the future. Our foundation is built on a passion for advancing whole child health, a commitment that not only drives us but also defines us. This dedication has been recognized with multiple nominations from Fast Company magazine as one of the most innovative firms in the world.

“I'm driven to continue CannonDesign’s legacy of innovation, creativity, and relentless pursuit of excellence so that our solutions contribute to a brighter future for women and children everywhere,” said Karri. 

In addition to her nearly 20 years of design and facilities work, Karri serves on the executive board of the New England Healthcare Engineer’s Society in her second year of a two-year term as secretary.  She currently lives in Connecticut and was named to the Hartford Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 List in 2021. She has participated as a contributing author to several healthcare specific publications, including the ASHE 2023 “The Facility Manager’s Handbook for Health Care Project Management.” 

Karri holds a certification from the American College of Healthcare Architects, has a certificate in Lean Design, and contributes to the industry as a frequent guest panelist and speaker for her thoughtful insights on the future trends in pediatric healthcare design.