Schroeder Ambulatory Centre

The Schroeder Ambulatory Centre, initiated by the Schroeder Foundation, is a groundbreaking healthcare project designed to address Canada’s pressing issue of wait times for common outpatient surgeries and clinical services. As an independent, non-profit facility—the first of its kind Ontario and Canada—it offers an efficient, multidisciplinary model for delivering ambulatory care. By removing elective surgeries, general and specialist clinics and diagnostic services from critical care hospitals, the Centre reduces pressure on the broader healthcare system. With a capacity for up to 200,000 patient visits annually, it supports the Ontario Ministry of Health’s decentralization strategy while demonstrating the larger role of philanthropy in supporting healthcare innovation and sustainability. Once fully realized, this approach is intended to serve as a model for improved care across Canada.

As both Design Architect and Architect of Record, NORR showcased how adaptive reuse can meet the functional demands of a state-of-the-art healthcare facility. The project transforms a 200,000 square foot medical office building into a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgical facility. Employing LEAN design principles, the team focused on eliminating inefficiencies, optimizing workflows and embedding patient-centric solutions throughout. The design incorporates thoughtful use of colors, textures and organic forms to create a calming environment and aid in wayfinding and signage to ensure intuitive navigation throughout the facility, further enhancing patient and staff experiences. Challenges posed by the existing structure, such as non-purpose-built layouts and curved walls, required innovative solutions, including strategic placement of operating rooms and imaging equipment to minimize structural upgrades.

Through the Immersive Design Process, our team ensured continuous collaboration with user groups from pre-design to operational readiness. Early engagement with the Ministry of Health and City officials, enabled the team to navigate complex code compliance and regulatory challenges through alternative design solutions.

The completed Centre will deliver specialized care, including a variety of surgeries and procedures, endoscopy, diagnostic imaging services and clinics. Adaptive reuse of an existing building significantly reduced environmental impact and shortened project delivery timelines compared to a ground-up development. Designed to optimize patient flow and operational efficiency, the facility provides a sustainable, scalable model for healthcare delivery.

The Schroeder Ambulatory Centre represents a landmark in Canadian healthcare philanthropy. By reducing surgical wait times, advancing patient care and fostering innovation, it exemplifies how visionary philanthropy can create lasting community impact. As one of the largest philanthropic healthcare donations in Canada’s history, it sets a precedent for future ventures to address systemic challenges with meaningful, sustainable solutions.