The University of Lethbridge has selected design firm Dialog to create a new medical education and clinical facility that will be the home of the Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP).
The project is a 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 to transform the current Community Centre for Wellbeing 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,” said 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,” said 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.”
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.
