Third spaces, and how UTSC is helping keep them alive

The new BV Lounge opened up this school year and it might be the third space that UTSC has been waiting for.

The BV Lounge: view of the mural and students using the space. Photo By: (Hiba Anwar // The Underground)

For many people, the routine of daily life consists of essentials, priorities, and stability. Going to work, school, earning a living, and getting an education are part of people's routines. Going to the gym, cooking meals for the week, doing the laundry are the essential tasks one might have, keeping us motivated, prepared, and fed.

Trying out a new restaurant, stopping by your favourite coffee shop on the way to work or school, meeting up with friends and family, is the stability we need in our routine in order to be social, open, and excited for life. However, outside of those three umbrella terms on what people's lives include, the action of simply going out to spend time in another space other than work, school or the gym, is not always part of most people's routine. 

Even the simple act of deciding where to go, whether with friends, family, or alone, can feel unexpectedly difficult. Where else can people go to just simply talk or spend some time alone? Is it “normal” to even include that in your daily routine? That is why third spaces are important.

A third space is defined as a public spot for free use; a space for personal or social attendances and a chance to connect with your community, naturally. Examples of this include libraries, parks, coffee shops/bars, community centres, gyms etc. A third space can really bring out the positivity within society.It is a visual proof of what communities can achieve by merging together with people who share the same interests or even just pleasantly absorbing the lull of the crowd by yourself. With that in mind, UTSC appears to have introduced a new third space on campus.

After months of construction, UTSC opened up the BV lounge, which is located in the Bladen Wing this academic year. This new third space can allow students to chat with friends, have meetings, eat lunch, read a book or simply unwind and scroll through their phones. This open space has a set of stairs and a spiral-like ramp leading down to the lounge, while surrounding its seating area with a row of windows displayed above it.

A gorgeous mural  encompasses an entire wall within the lounge, giving the area life and character. Though UTSC already offers several study spots and third spaces such as the food lounge near the marketplace, the library, and the SCSU bistro, this new space brings  a new environment into the mix. 

View of stairs and ramp leading down to access the lounge. The latter allows this space to be accessible to majority of the student population at UTSC. Photo By: (Hiba Anwar//The Underground)

However, as with any community space, it is important to acknowledge the diversity of opinions and first impressions in order to encourage improvement, validation, and freedom of expression. 

Alicia Ahmodu, a third-year UTSC student majoring in Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Disease with minors in Creative Writing and Theatre and Performance, shared her honest impressions about the new lounge.

“The idea of opening a new space is amazing, however, I think it lacks practicality. It's not necessarily a study space but more like a hangout area with the seating layout, and with the power sockets not working as well, it puts me off in choosing this space to be in.”

Gelila Muluneh, who is also a third-year student studying  political science and public policy, gave  a different perspective on the new space.

“I passed by the lounge area a lot when it was under construction, so I was very eager to see what it looked like. And I’ll say, the architecture and the space is beautiful. I believe in UTSC needing more study spaces, so I was glad to see another space students can freely use, especially with how inclusive they are with the accessibility of the lounge,” Muluneh shares. 

The opening of a new third space is always a welcome addition to the community. Although differences in opinion will naturally rise, ultimately, it is a reminder that comfort, unity and fun strengthens our community and is a better inclusion of stability within our life. The new BV lounge certainly promotes that.