The Temerty Advanced Surgical Education & Simulation Centre, located in Toronto’s downtown hospital precinct, supports surgeons, surgical trainees, members of the surgical team, along with continuing education for more than 13,000 healthcare professionals across the University Health Network, as well as students in Michener’s Allied Health programs.

Situated on the 12th floor of a 1970s-era facility originally built to train medical technologists, the project transforms an aging infrastructure into a future-ready learning environment. The renovation introduces an adaptable facility tailored to a wide range of teaching and learning needs—all within a simulated hospital environment.

Phase one of the project completed in 2020 is anchored by a 1,800 sq. ft. high-fidelity OR simulation lab where professional surgical teams and students can train collaboratively and learn surgical techniques, hone skills, and develop innovative surgical procedures. Adjacent to this core space is a 10-bay self-directed dry skills lab that can be set up with a variety of simulators and/or task trainers. The Centre also includes twin testing rooms, a 20-person debrief/conference room, administrative and multipurpose areas.

Phase two completed in 2024 centres around a large multipurpose skills-training and learning environment which can be configured for a variety of scenarios including eight minor procedure rooms, eleven wet-clinic skills lab stations, three ED trauma room / surgical OR stations, ten surgical stage 1 recovery bays (PACU) and four hybrid OR / DI stations.

The design emphasizes flexibility, visibility and functionality. Simulation rooms are easily reconfigurable to accommodate changing procedural needs. Smart glass walls toggle between transparent and opaque to instantly shift spaces from open and collaborative to private and focused. Abundant natural light, clean lines, and warm materials contribute to a calm, welcoming professional atmosphere that supports focused learning.

Informed by Temerty Advanced Surgical Education & Simulation Centre’s mission to be a global leader in lifelong, collaborative learning that shapes compassionate care and an evolving healthcare system, the facility is a transformative addition to the Michener Institute and UHN—setting a new benchmark for immersive, flexible, and future-ready healthcare education in Canada and beyond.