The SPACE, on the second floor of Albertsons Library, is an airy new venue designed to foster innovation, creativity and collaboration among faculty, staff and the wider community. Created by the College of Innovation and Design, The SPACE is built for retreats, workshops, meetings and special events — offering a flexible and inspiring environment where ideas can flourish.
President Marlene Tromp charged the college with expanding opportunities for innovation. Faculty and staff identified a significant gap on campus. “We saw that people didn’t have a place to gather and network in a creative way,” said Lana Grover, design director of The SPACE and the college’s director of programming.
So leaders in the college researched future-of-work studies. They designed a space, tested their concepts for a year by hosting more than 200 events, gathering comments and suggestions from users. The result is a hub of interconnected rooms designed to suit a variety of group sizes and activities. From large gatherings in the 5,800-square-foot Incubator to intimate workshops in the sunlit Glassroom, The SPACE offers an adaptable layout. The Commons area acts as a central gathering spot for spontaneous networking and idea sharing. The SPACE also offers quieter areas for reflection. “We wanted to create a neighborhood feel,” Grover said.
Since opening in early 2024, The SPACE has hosted university departments and external partners, including community groups and regional industry leaders.
“Our user experience design team had an incredibly productive offsite at this modern, creative space,” said Bryan Klein, senior partner manager at In Time Tec, a Meridian software company. “The environment was perfect for group and individual collaboration. The staff went above and beyond with seamless planning, from arranging catering to providing local recommendations. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue.”
The SPACE is more than a venue, Grover emphasized. “We’re creating an environment where people can thrive, connect, and collaborate, moving the dial on innovation.”
How The SPACE benefits the university and community
Ellie Dworak, professor and research librarian at Albertsons Library
Boise State has needed a space where faculty and staff can relax and interact with each other for a long time, and The SPACE at the College of Innovation and Design answers that need abundantly.
When I walk into The SPACE, the frenzy of my everyday work life slips away and I breathe a sigh of relief. Whether it’s an impromptu chat with a colleague, a meeting, or an event, the beautiful and functional design of the rooms in The SPACE allow me to focus and be more creative. From what I’ve observed, this is also true for others. For example, I worked with the Boise State AI in Research and Scholarship Committee to host an AI open house for graduate students last spring, and I found that the students who attended asked more questions and engaged more than is typical. The same was true of a summer conference hosted by the Boise State Social Impacts of Computing group last summer, which was attended by both Boise State and industry leaders. The conference inspired cross-disciplinary and Boise State-community partnerships that are still bearing fruit months later.
Finally, I should mention that the College of Innovation and Design staff who help with these events are amazing, helpful, and gracious. They go above and beyond to help with events, arriving early, staying late, picking up pizza, arranging parking – whatever I’ve needed, they’ve delivered. I can’t say enough about what a treasure The SPACE is to Boise State.
Heather Calkins, director of special events and protocol in the Office of Communication and Marketing
The SPACE allows you to be completely adaptable and flexible to meet your objectives – for presenters and for the audience. The Office of Communications and Marketing recently held its annual Brand Camp in The SPACE. The built-in stage and audio/visual support created a comfortable, almost living room feel for a student panel. But we’ve also hosted more formal events there, including a lunch for the Idaho Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. We had seated tables and President Tromp used the stage in a whole different way. We also partnered with the Boise Chamber of Commerce to host a reception for new leaders and CEOs. The SPACE let people visit and network in a comfortable way. We heard from attendees who were interested in using The SPACE for their events and we could connect then with the College of Innovation and Design team. And speaking of that team, the staff is amazingly supportive and flexible, helping users achieve the outcomes they’re looking for.
Find more information about The SPACE and making reservations on its website.