March 25, 2026

Phase One of Toronto Metropolitan University’s new School of Medicine is now open, establishing a new model for community-integrated medical education in one of Canada’s fastest-growing and most diverse regions. The project transforms the former Bramalea Civic Centre into a contemporary academic environment that integrates medical education with a public primary care clinic—directly addressing healthcare access in Peel Region.

The design retains the strong civic presence of the original 1970s brutalist structure while introducing light, openness, and transparency throughout. Through the removal of interior barriers and the transformation of the four-storey atrium, the former civic building has been reimagined as a welcoming and inclusive academic environment where students, faculty, and community members intersect. 

Indigenous design principles informed the project through collaboration with Two Row Architect, an Indigenous-owned firm, and guidance from TMU’s Indigenous Design Guidelines. Within the interconnected atrium, architectural elements reference the natural and cultural landscape of the region. Wood-clad columns evoke​ the tall pines of nearby Chinguacousy Park—which translates from Ojibwe as “Land of Tall Pines"; an Ojibwe star map spans the ceiling, referencing the celestial knowledge systems that have guided Indigenous peoples for generations; and preserved floor tiles are integrated with new patterns inspired by the structure of a Wampum belts. 

“When we looked to transform the former civic building into a place of healing and learning, we drew inspiration from local ecologies as way to bring new life to the space,” says Senior Associate Haley Zhou. “This desire to engage the design with its immediate surroundings mirrors the aspirations of the school program to contribute to the care of its own diverse community.”

The School is organized around three interconnected environments: active learning spaces for clinical training anchored by a ground-floor primary care clinic that provides essential health services to local residents; the renewed atrium, which serves as a crossroads for learning, gathering, and exchange: and academic research spaces and administrative offices that will be completed in Phase 2. Connected directly to the atrium, a library offers quiet and collaborative study environments alongside informal learning spaces. A round room dedicated to Indigenous smudging ceremonies and smaller gatherings anchors this area, offering an important place of reflection and cultural practice within the school community.

“By transforming a former civic building into a place of medical learning and care, the project extends the building’s original public purpose modernizing the space to remove barriers, advance equitable access, and create an inviting environment for the community,” concludes Senior Associate Dennis Giobbe.

Read the full media release here.