TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Two Row Architect is thrilled to be on the design team converting the former Bamalea Civic Centre 1970s municipal building into Toronto Metropolitan University’s new medical school. This fast-paced and ambitious project is intended to transform the 1970s municipal building into a school of the future, opening its doors in September 2025. This building will house research facilities, administrative offices, a teaching hub and a community clinic in an open, flexible and adaptable space, connected to the natural world outside. This adaptive reuse has sustainability as one of its core motivating forces, and the building will aim to both minimize energy consumption and maximize on-site renewable energy sourcing.

Design work has been guided throughout the project by the Indigenous Communities Council, ensuring Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing are embedded at every stage. This council includes TMU faculty, students and staff, as well as community members and representatives. Natural materials are to be used throughout the project, including those referencing the area’s Indigenous name, Chinguacousy, which means the Land of Tall Pines. A cultural room is planned to create a sense of connection and curiosity, intended to engage students of different backgrounds in conversation and activity.