WELLAND, ONT. — Currently under construction in Welland, Ont., the Niagara College Applied Health Institute (AHI) ExpansionNiagara College Applied Health Institute ExpansionStatusPost-BidValue$5MLocation100 Niagara College Blvd, Welland ONSectorPublic – State/ProvincialTypeEducational · Addition · RenovationData as of June 10, 2026View Project Page → aims to create a community hub that responds to
rising enrolment in health care programs such as nursing, paramedicine, personal support work, dental hygiene and pharmacy.
The 75,000-square-foot purpose-built mass timber addition was designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects and will feature a new entrance, pedestrian plaza, courtyard and atrium.
The building massing comprises two, two-storey blocks: one angled to mirror the existing AHI building, and the other aligned with the north-south street grid, a release notes. A two-storey link extends out from this second block to connect the new structure with the old. Together, they form a new landscaped courtyard.
New spaces for the project include a 40-chair dental clinic, dental labs, VR suite, general use classrooms, pharmacy labs, paramedic labs and multipurpose bookable clinic space.
“Activation spaces” are located between the two blocks on the ground floor, which are meant to foster a variety of social and break out activities. Among them, overlooking the courtyard, are a community hub and coffee shop.
At the heart of the building, a feature stair rises through an open atrium to the second level.
“Delivered on an accelerated schedule in response to urgent workforce needs, the mass timber expansion is pursuing Zero Carbon Building and Rick Hansen Foundation certifications,” the release adds. “An innovative design-assist partnership with timber supplier Nordic Structures also helped streamline co-ordination between design and fabrication, supporting both schedule certainty and construction efficiency.”
The expansion is designed to meet the CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard V4, with mass timber construction supporting low embodied carbon.
Weathered steel and burn-brushed cedar siding were also used in its design.
Phase one of the project is scheduled to open in fall 2027, Niagara College states.
