Our Space

A Home Away from Home for Black Students at McMaster

The Black Student Success Centre, located in the Peter George Centre for Living and Learning (PGCLL), rooms M05 (lounge) and M07 (office), is a gathering place, creative hub and community home built with and for Black students across the diaspora.

Black Student Community Lounge

Location: PGCLL M05
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday:
9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Friday:
9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Campus Map
A man in a blue hoodie smiles while sitting across a table from a woman with glasses using a laptop. Both are in an office setting.
A person sits by a large window at a white table, wearing headphones and typing on a laptop. They are focused and wearing a gray hoodie.
Students study in a modern library, sitting at long tables with laptops and tablets. The setting is bright and focused, with large windows and academic decor.

Take a virtual tour of the Black Student Community Lounge. Click and drag to explore.

From the moment you enter, you are greeted by warmth, colour, art and community. Our lounge is a place where students study, rest, eat, laugh, gather and recharge between classes. Walls feature rotating art from Black students and alumni, celebrating the richness and diversity of Black expression.

Students often describe the Centre as the first place on campus where they truly exhale — where they feel seen, welcomed and understood without explanation.

Every detail of our space reflects our values of Ubuntu, excellence, belonging, innovation and justice:

  • The artwork showcases Black identity and joy
  • Seating layouts allow both communal gathering and quiet solitude
  • The environment encourages studying, wellness, conversations and creativity
  • Students can drop in anytime — no appointment required

Both M05 and M07 are intentionally staffed so students always meet a friendly face.

  • Study individually or with friends
  • Join or host group meetings
  • Attend workshops, wellness circles and social events
  • Meet mentors, faculty and community partners
  • Access support from BSSC staff and student leaders
  • Eat lunch, relax, reset or simply exist in peace
  • Build lifelong friendships and networks

Our space is not just somewhere you go — it is a place you belong.

In August 2025, McMaster approved the expansion of the BSSC to include a new, much larger community lounge in PGCLL M05. This space is designed to host the full range of our programming and accommodate the rapidly growing number of students who view the BSSC as their campus home.

Features include:

  • Seating for up to 130 students
  • Flexible furniture for events, workshops and study sessions
  • A multi-use meeting zone and collaborative zone for student staff
  • Audio Visual capability for film screenings, panels and presentations
  • A clean, warm, inviting design for both community gatherings and quiet study

The new lounge allows students to move seamlessly between connecting, studying and participating in BSSC programs — all in one beautifully designed space.