Ontario Construction News staff writer
Niagara College is taking a major step to help address the region’s healthcare worker shortage with the launch of construction on its new Applied Health Institute expansion, set to begin this week.
Located on the southeast corner of Woodlawn Road and First Avenue, the project will add 75,000 square feet of teaching labs, classrooms, patient care spaces, and community hubs. The expansion is part of a strategic priority to increase enrolment in high-demand health programs — many of which currently have long wait lists — and will significantly boost the college’s capacity to train frontline healthcare workers.
“Meeting the urgent need for more skilled healthcare professionals in our region and province is one of our most important goals right now,” the college said in a statement.
The multi-phase construction will begin with the removal of berms and vegetation. Fencing will be installed along Woodlawn Road, though pedestrian sidewalk access will remain open. Phase one is expected to open in fall 2027.
Designed to minimize disruption, the construction will be entirely contained on college property to limit the impact on nearby residents.
The project also includes new community-accessible spaces that will allow Niagara College to offer more student-run clinics. These clinics will not only serve local healthcare needs but also provide students with expanded experiential learning opportunities.
The expansion marks a major investment in Niagara’s healthcare future — helping ensure that more students can access critical health programs while supporting the delivery of services in the community.
