The University of British Columbia has partnered on a new purpose-built home for the UBC Learning Exchange within a mixed-use, non-market housing development currently under construction at Main and East Cordova.
"UBC has long been committed to working with the people and communities of Vancouver," said UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon. "We are proud to be a core long-term partner in a new project that further strengthens this work by providing a new home for the UBC Learning Exchange, advancing reciprocal learning and research, and meaningful community engagement in the Downtown Eastside."
The Honourable Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, announced the project at a groundbreaking ceremony today, along with Dr. Melanie Stewart, UBC Vice-President, External Relations; Sunita Dhir, MLA for Vancouver-Langara and parliamentary secretary for international credentials; Deputy Mayor Sarah Kirby-Yung, City of Vancouver; and Stephen Bennett from the MAC Housing and Development Society.
The 10-storey, approximately 110,000-square-foot building will include 118 units of non-market housing, commercial space, educational space and a theatre. The UBC Learning Exchange expects to move to the purpose-built educational space in 2029. The new building is three blocks north of the Learning Exchange's current location at 612 Main St.
"UBC is pleased to be part of this unique partnership," said Dr. Stewart. "It marks an exciting new chapter for the UBC Learning Exchange, which has been in the community for over 25 years. I'm thrilled it will have a stable, accessible and welcoming space to continue their important work."
The project is a partnership between the federal government, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Province of B.C., through BC Housing's BC Builds program, the City of Vancouver and the MAC Housing and Development Society, a new non-profit society formed to manage this development.
"I'm delighted to be working with the MAC Society to help create an integrated hub, with housing, cultural amenities, commercial space and the educational space where the Learning Exchange will offer its low-barrier community programs and bring its two-way approach to learning," said Kathleen Leahy, director of the UBC Learning Exchange.
About the UBC Learning Exchange
Recognized by independent academic reviewers as a leading model of community-university engagement in Canada, the Learning Exchange offers free educational programs and leadership opportunities for community members, such as English conversation sessions and digital literacy workshops that local residents can train to lead. It also offers experiential learning and work opportunities for UBC students, and support for community-based research and knowledge exchange. Its work is shaped through long-standing partnerships with Downtown Eastside residents and organizations.
The Learning Exchange has outgrown its current space, which is also physically inaccessible for some (no elevator). Its new 10,500-square-foot space will face Cordova Street on the ground and second floor of the building. The design includes flexible learning, meeting and gathering rooms for workshops, student courses aligned with Downtown Eastside priorities, and conferences. It will also include a maker space, hot desks for campus and community partners, and a community learning kitchen.
