A former residence at the University of Waterloo (UW) is being transformed into a live-in incubator for collaborative new media projects developed by entrepreneurial students.

The new residence project, coined VeloCity, will unite creative, technologically savvy students under one roof to work on the future of mobile communications, web and new media. VeloCity will be housed in an old residence that will be renovated over the summer to become a collaborative space with meeting rooms, a device lab, network infrastructure (including connection to the ORION network), multimedia and gaming equipment, and WiFi for 70 lucky residents.

VeloCity is part of the Media and Mobility Network Project (MMNP) that has been under way on campus for the past year, with the goal of transforming the communications technology environment on the UW campus.

It is largely the brainchild of Sean Van Koughnett, director of UW Graphics and project manager for MMNP. "I thought about the many great success stories in the web, mobile communications and new media arena that originated in the minds of students," he says. "I think this is the perfect time and place for something like VeloCity." Not just residence officials but other administrative departments and three faculties, as well as student groups, have signed on to be involved, he says.

VeloCity will be a place where students, faculty and corporate partners will all be active collaborators and beneficiaries of the talent, ideas and innovations that evolve from the unique environment.

Not only will VeloCity residents benefit from living among other talented, like-minded UW students, they will also have an experienced mentor for guidance and will have access to the courses offered by the Accelerator Centre on the university's north campus.

Perhaps most attractive of all, at the end of each term residents will be able to pitch their work to individuals and companies that can help them take their ideas to the next level: industry leaders, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs. Van Koughnett is in discussions with potential partners, including companies in telecommunications, media and mobile communications.

To learn more, visit www.velocity.uwaterloo.ca.


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