About Interim Spaces

There’s a period of time between vacant and permanent. We believe that time has value.

Interim Spaces helps property owners, developers and municipalities unlock the potential of vacant and underutilized spaces while they wait for their next chapter.

Rather than allowing a property to sit empty while plans, approvals, construction or a new tenant take shape, we create temporary, revenue-generating uses that bring people through the doors, support local businesses and create activity within the community.

We call this temporary real estate activation.

We make the in-between work.

A space might be waiting for redevelopment, a new tenant, a zoning approval or a larger vision to come together. That process can take months or even years.

We see an opportunity in that time.

Interim Spaces works with property owners and communities to understand a space, develop a concept, curate the right mix of users and experiences, and manage the activation from beginning to end.

From creative studios and film and photography spaces to wellness, retail, markets, events, workshops and seasonal experiences, every activation is shaped around the space and the community around it.

Interim Spaces

Our Approach

No two buildings—or opportunities—are the same. Every project begins with understanding the building, its history, future plans, surrounding community, and activation potential.

Whether the interim period is a few weeks or several years, we develop customized strategies that align with the building, timeline, available resources, and community needs. Our interim uses are tailored to each site and designed to respect and showcase its unique character.

Because our interventions are temporary and reversible, they are particularly well suited to heritage properties, allowing buildings to remain active and accessible while preserving their heritage value and supporting future redevelopment plans.

Interim Spaces

Our Impact

Our activations are designed to increase visitation and foot traffic, support local businesses, strengthen community connections, create interim revenue opportunities, and showcase the future potential of vacant and underutilized buildings. By bringing people through the doors, we help generate awareness, attract potential tenants, support future leasing opportunities, and encourage incremental investment that contributes to the long-term preservation and sustainability of these properties.

  • We don't just fill empty space. We create reasons to come.

    Our goal is to turn underused real estate into places people want to experience.

    Temporary activation can:

    • Bring life back to vacant spaces
    • Generate revenue while a permanent future is being developed
    • Support local businesses, artists and entrepreneurs
    • Create new destinations within communities
    • Test potential future uses in a real-world environment
    • Build awareness and an audience around a property
    • Create momentum for the next chapter of a space
    • Connect people with places they might otherwise never experience

    We have a particular appreciation for buildings with character, history and a story to tell, but our approach isn't limited by the type of property. We believe almost any space can have an interim chapter when the right idea, people and opportunity come together.

From vacant to valuable.

Our work sits at the intersection of real estate, creative direction, operations and community building.

We can help with:

Strategy
Understanding the space, its opportunities and limitations, and identifying the right temporary-use strategy.

Concept + Design
Creating an activation that feels intentional, compelling and appropriate to the property.

Curation
Connecting the space with the right mix of businesses, creatives, experiences, events and community partners.

Operations
Managing bookings, vendors, programming, marketing, staffing and the details required to make an activation work.

Revenue Generation
Creating opportunities for a property to generate income and activity during periods of vacancy.

Community Activation
Bringing people into spaces that may otherwise sit empty and creating connection, discovery and momentum.

  • The future doesn't always need to start with a permanent tenant.

    Sometimes a space needs a little time. A little imagination. A reason for people to walk through the doors. And a team willing to make something happen. That's where we come in. Have a space that's sitting empty?

    Let's explore what's possible. 

  • Built from experience.

    Interim Spaces was born from the experience of Millworks Creative, where we spent years transforming an underutilized building into a thriving creative destination.

    Through that experience, we learned what it takes to turn an empty space into a place people want to use — from developing the concept and designing the experience to managing thousands of bookings, working with businesses and creatives, producing events and activations, and building a community around a property. That experience shaped how we approach Interim Spaces today. We know that every space is different. There is no one-size-fits-all activation.Our job is to understand the opportunity and create the right interim chapter for it.

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