SAMIH (Pronounced SAM-AI-H), also known as the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health to be located in Toronto’s Scarborough, has been designed in part by Diamond Schmitt and MVRDV—a global architecture company, with a symbiotic purpose that centers on servitude. For aspiring individuals who seek a healthcare career, this state-of-the-art building will not only serve them in their professional pursuits, whether it is nursing or becoming a physician, or other areas of healthcare, but will allow them to serve the same community they became qualified in and address the shortage of healthcare workers.
Construction is being helmed by EllisDon and will be a part of the University of Toronto‘s Scarborough campus. As the building has yet to be completed, there are no specs available to mention in terms of size except that SAMIH would take up approximately 144,482 square feet and located at Military Trail and Morningside Avenue. Despite this, the designers have focused on ensuring that the building captures the community spirit between staff, students, and their immediate surroundings. One of the ways this will be accomplished is by implementing a five-storey atrium, which will act as a meeting place physically and visually across the building and allow for a lot of natural light.
Environmental Aspects
Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will have modern features for a healthcare learning facility, including solar panels, that will assist in redistributing power throughout the building. This goes along with Don Schmitt’s of Diamond Schmitt’s intended overall theme of healing, not just for the individuals operating within the building, but for the building’s potential impact on the nearby environment.
The previously mentioned atrium also has an environmental focal point: It houses several plants that add another layer of indoor landscape that offers all the attendees a calming and reprieving effect of nature. On the main floor, a transparent façade provides natural lighting from the outside world. The emphasis on harmony with nature is evident by Vertechs Design Landscape architects’ deliberate intention to create a green space that is inspired by Indigenous planting methodology, concomitant with plants that reflect the origins of their caretakers.
Construction
As mentioned, the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health is currently under construction, so there needs to be more to showcase regarding its structure and materials use. What is known is that, according to the preliminary images shown on the official project website, the building’s entrance will have a large, cantilevered section and, in some ways, strongly resembles a ship’s hull. This may have been intentional, as Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Arifuzzamann asserts, “SAMIH will provide an important and physical anchor to UTSC (University of Toronto Scarborough Campus).”
This sentiment is echoed by Wisdom J. Tetty, Vice President of the University of Toronto and Principal of the University of Toronto Scarborough, “…we want to make sure that our leaders who come out of our institutions have a strong commitment to their communities and…the medical professional that we train here will feel very anchored in this community…and give back to the community in multiple ways over a long period of time.”
“As an anchor institution, and one of the largest employers in Eastern Scarborough, UTSC is well situated to address the need for the shortage of healthcare professionals across Scarborough and the Durham region.”
Jennifer McKelvie – Toronto City Councillor, Ward 25 Scarborough – Rouge Park
SAMIH Fruition
The Scarborough and Durham regions will be the ones to reap the rewards of this government-funded initiative once future nurse practitioners and others finish their academic endeavours and can practice locally. 900 to 1300 jobs are expected to be created due to this project, and an additional 67 to 89 million dollars of regional economic stimulation.
“By supporting this project, the Ontario Government will be making a lasting investment that will serve this region for generations to come by graduating health professionals who are skilled in team-based care. SAMIH will support the Government’s goal of creating a more connected healthcare system centred around patients, families and caregivers, in their communities.”
Dave Ryan – City of Pickering – Former Mayor
With a budget of 130 million, and with implemented sustainable features such as photovoltaics on the roofs and cladded facades, it is small wonder that SAMIH will serve as the healing and communal solar epicentre of the constellation of University of Torontos’s medical partners; Lakeridge Health, Michael Garron Hospital, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences and Scarborough Health Network.
The Scarborough Academy of Integrated Health and Medicine will pave the way for Scarborough to become a more resilient and autonomous society. The investment is not just for the building and the environmentally sustainable bells and whistles but for the individuals who will set foot in them daily. SAMIH is stationary but will act as the vehicle of education for many of these aspiring students and determine how far they will have to go to make the most of the knowledge, skills and abilities they acquire in school. Medicine is not an inexpensive school of thought to enter, so how the new state-of-the-art center will financially maintain itself over the next few years after 130 million has yet to be fully realized.
Medicine is not an inexpensive school of thought to enter, so how the new state-of-the-art center will financially maintain itself and “recuperate” over the few years post 130 million, has yet to be fully realized.
Doors are expected to open in September 2025.
References:
(2021). 21 October. Available at: https://youtu.be/ApUiZf9ZXXU (Accessed: 01 January 2024).
Announcing the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) at the University of Toronto Scarborough. et al. (no date) Inclusive, compassionate health care for the Eastern GTA, Inclusive, compassionate health care for the eastern GTA | Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health. Available at: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/samih/ (Accessed: 01 January 2024).
Mazzucco, L. (2023) Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough Campus Breaks Ground, Canadian Architect. Available at: https://www.canadianarchitect.com/scarborough-academy-of-medicine-and-integrated-health-at-the-university-of-torontos-scarborough-campus-breaks-ground/ (Accessed: 01 January 2024).
McPherson, D. (2023) New University of Toronto Medical School to address shortage of health care professionals in Scarborough, The Globe and Mail. Available at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/industry-news/property-report/article-new-university-of-toronto-medical-school-to-address-shortage-of-health/ (Accessed: 03 January 2024).
