October 27, 2025

The Toronto Metropolitan University's new School of Medicine is featured in an article by Rebecca Melnyk for REMI Network.

Universities have traditionally remained secluded behind gates and walls, but many are increasingly opening their doors to the cities around them, crafting campuses where academia and community life coexist.

Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) newly completed School of Medicine in Brampton, Ontario—housed within the repurposed Bramalea Civic Centre—is an example of how higher education can intertwine with the public realm.

Dennis Giobbe, senior associate at Diamond Schmitt, describes the new building as a catalyst for connection. The design integrates research, education, and hands-on practice, with a prominently placed clinic serving as its most visible feature. Students, in turn, can engage directly with real patients in a workplace setting.

As the concrete shell of the 1970s-era building structure was reimagined, Indigenous firm Two Row Architect brought healing, nature and cultural storytelling to the design.

“Working alongside the university’s Indigenous Space Sub-Working Group, we developed Design Guidelines that informed the entire building and landscape, ensuring the architecture reflects values of belonging, connection to nature, and respect for the land,” said Erik Skouris, Ojibwe architect and studio director at Two Row Architect. “Together with Diamond Schmitt and community, these principles were fully embraced, resulting in a space where the stories of the place are seamlessly woven into the fabric of healthcare education.

As part of TMU’s wider sustainability goals, the project was designed to meet LEED standards and reduce both operational and embodied carbon. “Just with the mechanical system itself we worked really hard to reduce the amount of carbon, so there was a real push to not have gas-fired equipment,” said Giobbe. “The majority of equipment is electric.”

Since the building is more than 50 years old, much care went into locating various aspects of the program in the most appropriate spots. With a fixed floorplate and floor-to-floor heights, designers worked within tight constraints to reuse existing service routes.

Large classrooms are purposely situated within a column-free layout on the ground floor. Teaching labs and other student spaces can be found on higher floors, separating them from public areas for an extra level of security.

“When you look at it before it was a bit of a maze. and there were real concerns about way finding,” says Giobbe. “But the way we programmed the building, having all the education spaces in the south wing, makes moving through the building more intuitive.

Flexibility was another priority. “Most institutions are moving away from larger classes and more focused on smaller group work so it’s more engaged,” explained Senior Associate Haley Zhou. “Information these days is so easy to find online; it’s not about learning information from a lecture or instructor, it’s about what it means to collaborate with other people. You can have a larger setting, but then break up into smaller groups, present to each other, and discuss learnings from your peers as well as from the instructor,” he adds. 

By transforming this aging civic landmark into an active hub for learning and community, the design shows how medicine is more than an educational journey or profession; it’s a shared public commitment.

Read the full story on REMI Network.