Ontario Construction News staff writer
Diamond Schmitt has been selected as the primary consultant to design and plan Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) new School of Medicine in Brampton.
To complement the School of Medicine’s design goals of belonging, community and connection to nature, Indigenous design elements will be integrated into the plan. Two Row Architect, an Indigenous-owned design firm, will consult on the project.
“The design of TMU’s School of Medicine embraces the brutalist architecture of the original civic building, while opening it up to become a welcoming and inclusive space for medical education,” said Cecily Eckhardt, principal at Diamond Schmitt.
“Designed to support the next generation of healthcare professionals, with many lab spaces to conduct simulation-based training and flexible work areas to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration, the School of Medicine will not only build community amongst students and faculty, but be a truly integrated health centre, providing access to quality medical care to the community of Peel Region through clinical support programs.”
The school will feature a four-storey interconnected atrium at the west entrance an library space
Other amenities will include
- event, gallery and maker spaces established as central hubs for student activities
- kitchen with a student-run internal herb garden
- ] academic research and administrative offices for faculty and staff
- community clinic on the ground floor
“The School of Medicine will serve the Brampton and Peel communities with its many diverse groups of people. We are committed to building a space that provides equitable access, safe and inclusive places to gather, and opportunities to learn and engage with the landscape and each other,” says Dr. Teresa Chan, dean of the School of Medicine and vice-president, medical affairs. “We look forward to working with Diamond Schmitt to bring our vision to life.”
The project is designed to LEED standards, repurposing an existing building to reduce the construction footprint and minimize energy and greenhouse gas emissions, with the integration of on-site renewable energy sources.
The School of Medicine is set to open in September 2025. This development is led by the Project Management Office within TMU’s Facilities Management and Development department, in collaboration with the School of Medicine leadership team.