Simon Fraser University (SFU) is set to open a new medical school in Surrey, British Columbia, aiming to address gaps in primary care across Canada while catalyzing growth in the city’s downtown core. The SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine will welcome its inaugural class of medical students in 2030, occupying a key component of Surrey’s large-scale Centre Block development near Surrey Central Station.
Surrey, one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, has seen an average annual population increase of nearly 11,000 people over the past five years, largely driven by immigration. With a projected population of 783,690 by 2041, the city is poised to become British Columbia’s most populous urban centre, surpassing Vancouver. The Centre Block project embodies Surrey’s vision for a “second downtown,” integrating higher education, health care, research, office, and retail spaces within a transit-accessible hub.
The medical school will occupy seven floors of a 12-storey mixed-use building on the site of the former North Surrey Recreation Centre, which was demolished in 2025. Adjacent to the existing SFU Surrey campus and the city’s SkyTrain station, the facility will also house retail businesses at street level and four floors of office space for the City of Surrey. The building’s design, led by Stantec in partnership with Revery Architecture, features stacked volumes resembling a Jenga tower and includes an open atrium with multilevel gathering spaces, dedicated Indigenous student areas, and a 49-space childcare centre.
A notable feature of the new medical school is a family outpatient clinic on its second floor, open to the public and serving as both a health services provider and a teaching environment for students. The clinic will be supported by educational and research space on the floors above. The project emphasizes community connectivity, linking transit modes and urban spaces to foster a civic hub consistent with Surrey’s official community plan.
SFU officials highlight the school’s focus on primary care and family medicine as a response to Canada’s ongoing physician shortage. According to the Canadian Medical Association, more than 20 percent of Canadians lack a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner. “We saw the need for a medical school focused on family practice and primary care,” said Peter Hall, vice-provost and associate vice-president of academics at SFU.
This new medical school is the first in Western Canada since the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine was established in 1967. SFU already maintains a significant academic presence in Surrey, with programs in interactive arts, mechatronics, and sustainable energy engineering.
Beyond education and healthcare, university officials envision the Centre Block medical school as a catalyst for greater cohesion within SFU’s Surrey campus. Hall expressed hopes for future expansion of student services, such as wellness programs and student housing. Drawing inspiration from the University of London, SFU aims to create an integrated urban campus that bridges academic, civic, and commercial communities.
Engagement with Indigenous knowledge keepers and incorporation of Indigenous themes into the building’s design underscore SFU’s commitment to inclusivity and cultural recognition. As Surrey continues its rapid development, the new medical school and Centre Block project are positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the city’s evolving identity and infrastructure.