A familiar space at the University of Lethbridge is set to be transformed.
Design firm DIALOG has been chosen to recreate the Community Centre for Wellbeing into a new education and clinical facility. This will be the home of the incoming Southern Alberta Medical Program. The program, which recently opened admissions, will allow students to earn a University of Calgary medical degree while finishing their training in southern Alberta. A goal is to boost health care in more rural communities of Alberta.
The Planning and design phases for the updated building are underway, and construction is anticipated to start soon, according to the U of L.
READ MORE: Admissions now open for new medical program in southern Alberta
The facility is planned to open in July 2027, but the first group of students are still set to start in July of 2026. Renovation work will result in a 5,000 square metre space designed for medical education, and will include 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.”
Additionally, Indigenous-informed design will help to create inclusive and culturally aware spaces for learners and patients.
“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.”
Past projects from DIALOG include Calgary’s Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the city’s new event centre, Scotia Place. The project at the U of L is supported by a provincial government investment of $43 million.
