Roundhouse is a dynamic and inclusive workspace located in Allard Hall, serving as a central hub for community engagement and fostering connections between MacEwan University and the broader community.
Where collaboration and community flourish
Embodying the university’s strong commitment to community engagement, Roundhouse acts as a gateway for the university and the community to connect. Through our partnerships with local and provincial organizations, businesses and institutions, MacEwan invites a diverse community of members with various ideas, backgrounds, and cultures to gather at Roundhouse. Through these connections, we aim to advance the common good, foster mutual learning and deepen MacEwan University's presence in the community.
As well, MacEwan’s community-engaged departments connect with local organizations at Roundhouse, exchanging ideas and collaborating towards shared objectives, and our students participate in community-building, social and academic activities in our event space and meeting rooms.
Whether you are planning a ceremonial gathering, a speaker series, a product launch or a social event, Roundhouse offers a versatile and welcoming setting to bring your vision to life.
Roundhouse was designed to make it easy for ideas and people to bounce around freely.
Intentional biophilic design elements, such as the moss wall, natural wood tables, ficus benjamina and fiddle leaf fig trees are all aimed at connecting the space to the natural environment.
Roundhouse is a dynamic and inclusive workspace located in Allard Hall.
Roundhouse facilitates the formation of new partnerships and connections that aim to deepen MacEwan University's presence in the community.
With a large event space and multiple meeting rooms, this venue is a hidden downtown gem.
Roundhouse boasts 17-foot high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that feature stunning views of the downtown area while flooding the space with natural light, creating an atmosphere that inspires productivity.
Our innovative design
Roundhouse’s design is a result of three interconnected core elements: the railway, reconciliation, and nature, which are all woven into the space.
Railway
During excavation of the site where Allard Hall now stands, contractors found an old CN train roundhouse — a circular area of rail yard where multiple tracks converge and trains are switched to different tracks. Trains entered from one direction, picked up resources and accessed any services they needed, before heading off in a new direction. This concept perfectly represented the goal of creating a space on campus where people come together, access support, resources and inspiration, and continue to pursue their idea and hence, the name "Roundhouse" was born.
Reconciliation
We acknowledge, honour and respect the cultures of the Indigenous peoples and the ancestral lands within Treaty Six Territory. Our past is important to us, and influences our future. Roundhouse is an inclusive place that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life to come together, connect, and celebrate their culture.
Nature
As a society, we spend a lot of time indoors, at home and at work, so it’s easy to become disconnected from the outside world. Biophilic design was incorporated into the design of Roundhouse, integrating natural elements into the space to promote creativity, improve well-being, and help people establish a stronger connection with the environment.
The Triskaidecagon
Roundhouse’s logo is a triskaidecagon, a 13-sided shape that emulates the shape of a roundhouse and the directions from which a train could enter and exit. It also represents the First Nations talking circle where all voices have importance.