A familiar space in Lethbridge is being reimagined for the future of health care, and for the learners who are interested in delivering care to rural and regional southern Alberta communities.
Design firm DIALOG is recreating the Community Centre for Wellbeing (CCW) into a new medical education and clinical facility that will be the home of the Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP). An innovative partnership between the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and the University of Lethbridge, SAMP offers students the opportunity to earn a UCalgary medical degree while completing their training in southern Alberta.
Planning and design for the updated building are now underway, with construction expected to begin soon and the facility set to open in July 2027.
Renovations will create 5,000 square metres of purpose-designed space for medical education, including teaching areas, an anatomy lab, and a new clinic to support hands-on learning.
“This is about creating the right space for future physicians to learn, grow and serve their communities,” says Dr. Richard Buck, Associate Dean for SAMP. “Our entire approach, from curriculum to clinical placements, has been built to reflect the demands and opportunities of rural and regional medicine. We’re excited to welcome students who feel called to serve rural and regional communities, and to support them with a space built for that purpose."
Designed with flexibility, sustainability and community in mind, the facility will feature natural lighting, a calming and safe aesthetic, and adaptable learning environments. Indigenous-informed design will also help guide the development of inclusive and culturally aware spaces for learners and patients alike.
“Our team was inspired by the program’s mission to train physicians in the places they’re needed most,” says Yvonne Choe, Architect and Partner, DIALOG. “We approached this project with the goal of creating a space that feels rooted in the land and culture of southern Alberta, while advancing health-care education.”
DIALOG brings extensive experience in large-scale health and community infrastructure, including Calgary’s Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the city’s new event centre, Scotia Place.
The project is supported by the Government of Alberta’s investment of $43 million and represents a key milestone in the development of distributed medical education across the province.
About DIALOG
Driven by its core values, DIALOG is committed to changing the world through great design. A multidisciplinary, B Corp design practice comprising architects, urban planners, interior designers, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, landscape architects, and sustainability and building performance consultants, DIALOG has over 600 employees across North America. Focusing on complex design projects, DIALOG’s portfolio spans civic & culture, higher education, healthcare, hospitality, government, mixed-use living, workplace, sports & recreation, bridges & urban infrastructure, retrofit, science & technology, transit, aviation, retail, and urbanism planning & policy. The practice has studios in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and San Francisco. DIALOG is a proud Partner of the World Economic Forum. Visit https://dialogdesign.ca/.