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Concordia University

The SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation

The SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation

SHIFT Collaborative Space

in the heart of Concordia's downtown campus

Home to the SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation and the Office of Community Engagement (OCE), the SHIFT Centre is a welcoming space to connect with peers, network, collaborate, share skills, and tackle societal challenges within and beyond Concordia.

About the facilities How to access the space User responsibilities Events

Facilities

Found at the heart of Concordia’s downtown campus, it's an accessible venue on the first floor of the J.W. McConnell Building (LB-145), near Concordia’s 4TH SPACE and the R. Howard Webster Library.

The SHIFT Centre offers four rooms designed for collaborative work sessions, or to host events, large or small. 

Co-working space | open space area

Two females are seated on highchairs and table in the co-working space, smiling at each other, another one is seen further in the back seated on a block.
Three female community members are using the SHIFT open space

With plenty of natural light, the co-working/open space area is perfect for individual work or coworking sessions. 

Features

  • 14 hot desks
  • Laptop charger ports
  • Access to a couch area
  • Access to the kitchen and dining area

Coworking Days: Open access to the SHIFT open space. 

  • Tuesdays: noon to 6 p.m.
  • Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Open Space | small or large events

An open area with two tables and office chairs, a screen and projector, and a couch area with coffee table
An L-shaped couch, stools and table in front of a screen on the wall

The open space is located near the entrance to the SHIFT Centre. The space can be set up to host small or large events for up to 50 participants (e.g., networking events, workshops, public events).

Features

  • Suitable for up to 50 participants
  • Projector
  • Laptop charger ports
  • Screen
  • Wireless BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) connections (laptops, tablets, phones – up to 4 at a time).
  • Zoned speaker system
  • Access to the kitchen and dining area 

Conference room (Aster: LB 145.10)

A long table with seats for up to 14 people with black chairs, a white board and large screen

The conference room is equipped to comfortably accommodate up to 25 people. The expansive conference room can be set up for teams to meet, participate in video conferences or present — virtually or in person.

The conference room is available for booking by members of the SHIFT and OCE community, the Concordia community, and the Montreal community at-large. Requests should be sent to the Space and Event Coordinator for pre-assessment based on value and mission alignment, space capacity and availability.

Features

  • Suitable for large meetings of up to 25 people
  • Laptop connections
  • PC
  • Wireless BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) connections (laptops, tablets, phones – up to 4 at a time).
  • Camera and a microphone system connected to the PC (for hybrid sessions)
  • Audio set up via ceiling speakers

Breakout rooms (Oak: LB 145.07, Birch: LB 145.09)

Three females, 1 standing, two seated, are discussing in a room with clear glass walls, a white table, a white board and a TV screen.
A person is sitting in the breakout room and working on their laptop. The room has clear glass walls and includes a white table, a white board, a TV screen and a recycle bin.

The breakout rooms give you a quiet space to conduct smaller meetings, make private phone calls, and participate in video calls without distraction. The rooms are suitable for either one person or small teams of up to 4 people.

The two breakout rooms can be reserved by members of the SHIFT and OCE communities. The rooms may also be booked by members of the Concordia community or the public, for meetings that have strong social transformation alignment or community focus.

Features

  • Suitable for up to 4 people
  • TV monitor
  • Wired laptop connection (for powerpoint etc.)
  • Wireless BYOD connections (laptops, tablets, phones – up to 4 at a time)
  • Camera/microphone/speaker system (for hybrid sessions)

Lounge room (Sunflower: LB 145.14)

Three females are working in the lounge room: 1 is seated on a high white chair with their laptop on a high white table; the two others are seating on a long green couch. The room faces the street side, visible through the large glass window.
Three females are working in the lounge room: 1 is seated on a white chair with their laptop on a white table; the two others are seating on a long green couch. The room includes a green plan by the window, a short table and a TV screen.

The lounge room offers a semi-formal setting to conduct meetings, hold brainstorming sessions or collaborate on projects. Facing Metcalfe Street, the room is cozy, well-lit, and fully equipped to welcome team members and partners.

The lounge room can be reserved by SHIFT/OCE community members. The rooms may be booked by other members of the Concordia community or the public for events that have a strong social transformation/community focus.

Features

  • Suitable for small teams of 2 to 9 people
  • TV monitor
  • Wired laptop connection (for power point, etc.)
  • Wireless BYOD connections (laptops, tablets, phones – up to 4 at a time)
  • Camera/microphone/speaker system (for hybrid sessions)

Kitchen and dining area

An open kitchen and dining area with two long tables, a counter with coffee and tea maker and large SHIFT letters at the top of the shelves.
A female is sitting in the dining area looking at her phone, the area includes two long tables, a counter with coffee and tea maker and large SHIFT letters at the top of the shelves.

Users of The SHIFT Centre have access to a fully equipped kitchen and a dining area. The place is perfect for small kitchen talks, connecting and sharing a meal. The kitchen and dining area is open and accessible everyone at the centre.

Features

  • Seats up to 10 people
  • Fridge
  • Dining table and chairs
  • Toaster oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Coffee machine
  • Small coffee
  • Tableware
  • Kitchen utensils
  • Free refreshments – tap water, coffee, tea, snacks

Access to the space

Coworking Days 

  • Tuesdays: noon to 6 p.m.
  • Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Coworking Days, SHIFT's coworking and open space are open to anyone working on social change and community engaged projects. Members of the SHIFT and OCE communities, Concordians, and the broader public are welcome to drop in and use the space. 

No reservation is required, seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SHIFT and OCE partners and community members can use the open space area or reserve rooms to host meetings, workshops, small events, etc.

To reserve a room, first read the user responibilities and then send your request. 

Hosting an event at SHIFT

SHIFT's open space area is available to our partners, Concordians and the broader public to host events that tackle systems of injustice, inequity, or sustainability at Concordia or beyond. 

All event proposals will be reviewed based on value alignment, space capacity and availability. Note that priority is given to members and partners of the SHIFT and OCE communities. 

To host an event at SHIFT, fill out the proposal form.

View our current events calendar. 

User responsibilities

  • Please always ensure that the resources available within the SHIFT Centre are used with care keeping in consideration that other people count on them.
  • Please take responsibility for the cleanliness and tidiness of the space.
    • Please return any chairs and tables to their original spot.
    • Clean up any work areas you have used.
    • Ensure that all waste is collected and taken to their respective bins in the kitchen area.
    • Clean dishes and utensils carefully and return to shelves and drawers.
    • If anything is spilled, please clean it up immediately – brooms, dustpans and mops are available in the storage room; please ask about their whereabouts.
  • Only use the AV equipment if you’ve been trained on how to do so.  
  • Respect our alcohol-free policy. The serving or consumption of alcohol in all spaces of the SHIFT Centre is prohibited at all times except in the circumstances outlined below: 
    • Permission may only be granted to events for which SHIFT staff are directly responsible; and
    • SHIFT staff and/or the Space Hub shall have permission to approve the serving and/or consumption of alcohol at events in the SHIFT space on a rare, case-by-case basis. 
  • Please respect access restrictions related to COVID 19 protocols: SHIFT complies with Concordia University’s COVID-19 protocols. 

Events

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