Built to Belong: Inside JCI’s New Community Space on Robson

Rendering of the space.

Right now, it’s still a construction zone. There’s the hum of drills and the rhythmic clatter of tools against concrete—the kind of soundtrack that signals something new coming to life. Dust catches the light as it pours through the back windows, cutting through the quiet moments between laughter and conversation from the crews working inside. The floors are unpolished, the furniture sparse, the walls still waiting for their first coat of paint. But even in its unfinished state, this room already feels like what it’s meant to be: a space for people to gather.

When we first stepped into this 2,200-square-foot corner of our new Robson campus, it was impossible not to imagine what could happen here. We talked about it as a “third space”—not a classroom, not an office, but something in between. A place designed for connection, conversation, and creativity. The kind of room that can shift shape with whatever energy fills it.

We kept it open on purpose—the light, the floors, the layout. It’s meant to evolve. One week it might be hosting a student showcase, the next a pop-up market or an industry panel. Maybe it becomes the backdrop for a clothing swap, a beauty bar, or a photoshoot that turns into a collaboration. We’ve seen over and over how JCI’s best ideas come from the people within it; this space is simply a stage for more of that to unfold.

And it’s not lost on us that it sits right in the heart of Robson Street. Step outside and you’re surrounded by brands our students dream of joining. To build something new here, amid that energy, feels both symbolic and right.

We have our own plans, of course—events, showcases, workshops—but we also know that the space will be shaped by the people who use it. That’s the point. The best spaces evolve with their communities, becoming reflections of the people who fill them. That’s why, in the weeks ahead, we’ll be inviting you to help us give it a name—something that captures what this place means and what it will become.

It’s a blank canvas for now. A space waiting for stories, ideas, and maybe even a bit of mess. But that’s where all good things start—in the middle of the noise and dust, before the walls are finished and the lights are hung, when all you have is a shared vision and the hum of possibility in the air.

Follow us on Instagram to stay in the loop—we’ll be dropping some exciting news in early November.