Micro-Labs – the treasured meeting space we have created together – continues to provide local communities and small businesses with a free, accessible and inclusive place to connect right in the heart of the city.

This unique space has hosted more than 17,000 visitors, 340 events and 60 organisations. In July, we’re taking time to review 12 months of data and explore how to better support users in the future. We won’t be taking any new bookings for July and will re-open and share updates in August.

Data provides us with valuable information about how the space has been used so far and what we need to address when planning for future use here and in other City of Melbourne spaces.

So far the data has revealed:

• which tools and amenities are more valued than others; resulting in Micro-Labs adding and removing resources as required
  
• a co-designed community space that is flexible and adaptable continues to match community needs but more work is needed to make it sustainable
  
• Micro-Labs is like a city ‘water cooler’ providing visitors a place to stop by, share a cuppa and provide incidental connections between diverse community members
  
• location, design, amenities and staff have created a supportive, culturally-safe space connecting our community to resources and programs or a place for some ‘time out’
  
• small businesses and social enterprises are using the space to trial how they might scale up or broaden their offering. There have been retail activations, events, installations and more.

The community’s support for Micro-Labs has recently been amplified with their votes resulting in the pilot receiving an Honourable Mention in the latest Commonwealth Government’s National Awards for Local Government.

Standby for an update in August when we reopen bookings and share what to expect for the rest of the year.