The Future of the OR
Living Lab & Innovation Evening Event
Join us for an evening to explore how design, infrastructure, and innovation can shape future-ready operating rooms. This invite-only gathering brings together leaders to help shape Alberta’s OR Living Lab and the future of healthcare infrastructure.
Tuesday September 15, 2026
EllisDon, 140 Quarry Park Blvd #310, Calgary, Alberta
5:30PM - 8:45PM
Invite only
Designing Future-Ready Operating Rooms
How do we design operating rooms that can adapt to rapid advances in robotics, imaging, AI, and other technologies—without requiring constant, disruptive renovation?
ABOUT THE EVENT
This invite-only evening will bring together approximately 75 leaders from healthcare, government, design, construction, and innovation for a working conversation about what future-ready surgical spaces need to look like—and where today’s built environment falls short.
The evening will also include appetizers and opportunities for guests to connect and exchange perspectives across sectors.
THE CONVERSATION
The anchor of the evening is a transdisciplinary panel, The Role of the Built Environment in Innovation: Building the Space, Infrastructure, Procurement and Capital Planning for the Future OR, moderated by SLD Technology.
The discussion will focus on the infrastructure, procurement, planning, and design decisions needed to create ORs that can adapt as technology and models of care evolve. Together, we will explore how the built environment can better support clinical outcomes, operational performance, and long-term health and economic outcomes in Alberta.
SHAPING ALBERTA FUTURE ORs
The event is part of the broader Health Everywhere Hub Living Lab initiative, supported through the Government of Alberta’s Major Innovation Fund. As the Health Everywhere Hub advances its Living Lab strategy, this gathering is an opportunity for leaders across sectors to help shape the design priorities that will inform Alberta’s future OR planning and infrastructure.
EVENING SPONSOR
SLD Technology
We're proud to partner with SLD Technology as the Evening Sponsor of The Future of the OR
SLD Technology is redefining the way operating rooms are built through its patented AirFRAME ceiling system, delivering superior airflow and contamination control while simplifying construction. Since 2015, AirFRAME has saved over 18,000 days of installation time across more than 1,200 installations in 39 states and 4 countries. Their support helps power the evening event and advance the future of safer, cleaner, and more adaptable OR spaces in Alberta.
SCHEDULE
Evening Event Agenda
1:45-2:30 pm
PANEL
Interoperability & Data Integration for Innovation
📍Theatre 4
3:45-4:00 pm
CLOSING REMARKS
📍Theatre 4
5:30-6:00pm
CHECK IN + NETWORKING
6:00-6:15pm
OPENING REMARKS
Ivy Parks, BD Canada
6:15-7:15pm
NETWORKING + VR TOUR
7:15-8:15pm
FUTURE PROOFING OR SPACES
Focused panel and networking about the role of construction, design and the built environment to support health and economic outcomes
Moderated by Cliff Yahnke (SLD Technology)
Panelists: Noor Esmail (Stantec), Olivia Brown EllisDon), Robyn Saccon (BD Canada),
8:15-8:45pm
AUDIENCE Q & A
Tara Klassen
8:45pm
CLOSING REMARKS
Tara Klassen
PROGRAMMING
Meet our Speakers
PANEL
Future Proofing OR Spaces
7:15-8-15pm
MODERATOR
Cliff Yahnke
SLD Technology
PANELIST
Robyn Saccon
BD Canada
PANELIST
Noor Esmail
Stantec
PANELIST
Olivia Brown
EllisDon
ATTENDEES
Who Should Attend
Clinical Care Teams
Surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, administrators
Industry + Innovators
Medical Technology, device makers, startups, investors
Academic Researchers
Faculty and surgical residents
Health System Leaders
System leaders and policy makers
Government
Ministry of Technology and Innovation
Built Environment
Healthcare construction firms
Clinical Care Teams
Surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, administrators
Industry + Innovators
Medical Technology, device makers, startups, investors
Academic Researchers
Faculty and surgical residents
Health System Leaders
System leaders and policy makers
Government
Ministry of Technology and Innovation
Built Environment
Healthcare construction firms
Clinical Care Teams
Surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, perioperative staff, and trainees
Health System Leaders
Executives, operational leaders, and decision-makers from health delivery organizations
Academic Researchers
Clinical, health services, and engineering researchers advancing surgical innovation
Industry + Innovators
Medtech companies, device manufacturers, startups, and investors
Government
Provincial ministries, health authorities, and public agencies shaping health innovation policy
Built Environment
Architects, designers, engineers, and construction partners shaping surgical spaces
COMING SOON
Meet our Panelists
Cliff Yahnke
Chief Science Officer,
SLD Technology
Andrew Hall
SVP of Strategic Accounts,
SLD Technology
Olivia Brown
Senior Manager, Innovation & ConTech, EllisDon
TBD
Coming Soon!
PRESENTED BY:
