Featured artwork generously provided by Cosmodernism, Seeing Into The Unknown, Artificial Life Environment, Jules Roze.
McGill University's dedicated interdisciplinary scholar space
About UsOpen to students of all levels of study & research disciplines
ApplyNew, innovative & beautiful ways to approach the university experience
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An unconventional space for unconventional ideas
See Who We Are200+
Scholars pursuing interdisciplinary projects
$600, 000+
Funnelled to fellowships and programs
40+
Different disciplines hosted at B21
900+
Workshops, community gatherings & speaker events
BLUE Programs
Our BLUE (Beautiful, Limitless, Unconstrained Exploration) Program leading scholars across disciplines to bring unconventional ideas to life
How to Join
B21's Scholar Programs
The BLUE (Beautiful, Limitless, Unconstrained Exploration) fellowship, developed at Building 21 over the last eight years, drives our cohort-based programs. BLUE brings together scholars across diverse research disciplines and academic levels, offering structure, mentorship, community, and the conditions for new discoveries to emerge.
Wholly Interdisciplinary
Building 21 focuses on the process of exploration, not just results. We seek the accelerator effect of merging diverse disciplines — what new paths can we discover when philosophy tackles physics, when healthcare and music intersect, or when chemistry challenges our understanding of free will?
No credits, no grades
Our programs are driven by the pursuit of discovery. With no credits or grades, we ask bold, original questions. We seek uncharted territories of ideas, concepts, and designs. We train our scholars to think beyond the acknowledged, the recognized and the comfortable.
Scholars
We’ve support hundreds of McGill undergraduate, Master's, and PhD students across all disciplines in their exploration
This generation of thinkers
8 years, 12 cohorts, and over 200 scholars creating new knowledge with Building 21 since 2017.
Our Scholars
Where are they now?
Read our alumni stories and learn about their paths after being part of the BLUE Program.
Our Alumni
An active scholar community
The cohort of scholars and the projects being pursued at Building 21 today.
Active Cohort
Our alumni are pushing the boundaries of knowledge and creativity at these institutions
Activities
Come experience Building 21 yourself at 651 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal
See What's On
Special Guests
We invite curious thinkers, builders, and explorers around the globe to B21
View their talks at Building 21
Michael Lapsley: Founder of the Institute for Healing of Memories
Watch here
Professor Darryl Haggard: Observing Black Holes
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Professor Paula Williams: The Psychology of Awe
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Author Alexander Weinstein: Creative Writing Workshop
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Artist Karen Tam: Eating Gold Mountain Dreams
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Betty Edwards: Learning to Draw for Thinking's Sake
Watch here
Dr. David M. Peña-Guzmán: When Animals Dream
Watch here
Professor Leah Price, Author & Book Historian
Watch here
Francesca Panetta, Creative Director at the MIT Center for Advanced Virtuality
Watch here
Professor Angus Fletcher: The Brain and Narratives, The Limits of AI
Watch here
Professor Paul Yachnin: "What did we do right?"
Watch here
David Krakauer: President of the Santa Fe Institute
Watch here
Professor Frédéric Gilbert: The Ethics of Implantable Brain-Computer Interfaces
Watch here
Refik Anadol, Media Artist & Director
Watch here
Azeem Azhar, Founder of Exponential View
Watch hereInstitutional Ventures
See Building 21's latest projects, partnerships, and features in the news
Our productions & ventures
Get involved
Contribute to shaping the future of education and research