As Swinerton expands its healthcare construction leadership across the nation, we’re spotlighting the regional experts driving innovation in this demanding market. Rashad Morton, Project Executive in our Atlanta Division, brings extensive experience delivering complex medical facilities where excellence is non-negotiable. From surgical centers to medical office buildings, Rashad and his team understand that healthcare construction requires an unwavering commitment to quality—because patient safety and outcomes depend on it.

In this conversation, Rashad shares his journey into healthcare construction, the unique challenges that define this specialized field, and why Swinerton’s employee-owned structure makes us a trusted partner for healthcare systems investing in the future of patient care.

Q. Where did you grow up and where did you go to school?

I grew up in Macedonia, Ohio, a small town between Cleveland and Akron, and I attended Northwestern University. While I was there, I was a Safety on the football team and studied Construction Management.

Q. How did you get into the construction industry?

I worked a number of summers with my best friend’s dad at a residential remodeling company, giving me first-hand experience with the construction industry. I loved the fast-paced environment where every day was different and presented new challenges that required unique solutions. I learned a lot of trades too, from installing drywall to prepping plumbing.

Q. What led you to our healthcare market?

After graduating from college and spending some time pursuing football, I began my construction career at a smaller, regional general contractor in Indianapolis. As a Project Engineer, I worked on many different types of jobs, including libraries, schools, dormitories, pharmaceutical plants, and more. I then decided to join a larger general contractor in California that ended up putting me in the healthcare market.

Q. What are you particularly passionate about in healthcare construction?

Healthcare construction requires a high level of commitment and understanding; it will easily weed out people who are not committed to the highest level of excellence. You cannot ever compromise your standards because people’s lives are dependent on the outcome of your work. You can never take a shortcut, which appeals to me on a personal level as I’m driven by high expectations and like to challenge myself. Our clients’ dedication to advancing patient care fuels my team’s passion to build smarter, better spaces—because progress starts with a shared vision.

“You cannot ever compromise your standards because people’s lives are dependent on the outcome of your work.”

Q. What do you see as the future of healthcare construction?

Providers are investing more in preventative care options, which requires additional outpatient facilities and medical office buildings. This also coincides with providers looking to expand into less dense areas to provide care to more rural areas. There are many hospital deserts outside major cities, providing a unique opportunity to grow access to upgraded care. Swinerton has a rich portfolio of healthcare spaces that span from surgical centers to medical offices, so we are poised and ready to build whatever our clients are envisioning.

Key Healthcare Construction Trends

• • Growth in outpatient facilities and medical office buildings
  • Expansion into underserved rural areas
  • Increased focus on preventative care infrastructure
  • Addressing healthcare deserts outside major metropolitan areas

Q. What has been your favorite healthcare project?

My favorite healthcare project before coming to Swinerton was not due to the job itself but the team. We constructed two ground-up hospitals across eight years with the same group of people; we really grew up together through our young adult years. At Swinerton, my favorite would be a Learning and Health Pavilion Medical Office Building, because we have a great team that faced challenges head-on and took accountability for every single aspect of the project. The execution was seamless and because of that the final product is something we are very proud of.

View our healthcare projects.

Q. What advice would you give younger professionals entering this industry and this market?

Accept your work as a challenge and push yourself to be the best possible version of you. Hold yourself to the highest achievable standard and the rest will fall into place.

Q. What do you think is Swinerton’s greatest asset when it comes to healthcare construction?

Swinerton is passionately committed to the outcome of every project because of our employee-owned structure. Every team member has a stake in our collective success, further reinforcing our personal and professional drive for excellence. Armed with these values, we are continuing to grow our presence in the healthcare market to be a high-level player in the space.

Rashad Morton and the Swinerton team are committed to advancing healthcare construction through innovation, accountability, and unwavering attention to detail. As healthcare systems continue investing in expanded access and modernized facilities, our experience delivering surgical centers, medical office buildings, hospitals, and specialty care spaces positions us as a trusted partner for organizations seeking excellence in every phase of construction.

Learn more about our healthcare construction capabilities or connect with our team to discuss your next medical facility project.