McGill's Le James Bookstore is a boutique designed as an extension of the university’s downtown Montreal campus. The bookstore becomes a fully connected campus space, a sort of catalyst for exchange and academic pride that allows students to take ownership of the site.

Located on two levels (ground floor and basement), the bookstore relies on a large central staircase as the circulation tool and visual link. Its strategic location and generous dimensions allow a great amount of natural light to brighten the basement, thus anchoring this space in the context of the street. The use of bamboo, the transparency of railings that highlight the original concrete structure and the platforms encourage connections to make the grand staircase a meeting place conducive to trade. The James Bookstore contributes to the pride of the McGill community and strengthens the sense of belonging to this great institution.