Québec’s Creative Digital Production Excellence Hub
Located right in the heart of Montréal at Îlot Balmoral
Credit : Stéphane Brügger | Provencher Roy
10partners
1,000+occupants per day
11storeys
27,850square metres
10partners
27,850square metres
11storeys
1,000+occupants per day
Welcome to Îlot Balmoral
Îlot Balmoral, located in Montréal’s Entertainment District, is home to Québec’s largest creative digital production hub. Starting in September 2026, the hub will bring together, in one physical location, major players in education, research, and industry in the field of creative digital production so as to foster collaboration and innovation.
Credit : Stéphane Brügger | Provencher RoyAn excellence hub in creative digital production, teaching, and research
Îlot Balmoral is a teaching and research hub located in downtown Montréal. Its mission is to build bridges between academic research, research and development, and research and creative production. The Excellence Hub will offer college and professional training, along with undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate university programs starting in September 2026.The Creative Digital Production Excellence Hub is a catalyst for collaboration across industry, education, and research, enabling the sharing of prototyping spaces and pooling of cross-sector expertise among key players in the digital industry.
Credit : Stéphane Brügger | Provencher Roy$42.6 million for digital arts and creativity
On May 16, 2024, Québec higher-education minister Pascale Déry announced funding of more than $42 million for the creation of an excellence hub in teaching and R&D relating to creative digital production at Îlot Balmoral, led by SYNTHÈSE and Université du Québec.This initiative brings together, in one place, two universities, a consortium of five CEGEPs, a college-level technology transfer centre (CDRIN), and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), which has been located at Îlot Balmoral since 2019.
Starting in September 2026, this pooling of creative digital forces both from industry and education will enable Québec’s ministry of higher education and university network (Université du Québec) to bolster support for the development of Québec’s ecosystem through activities implemented by SYNTHÈSE.
Québec higher-education minister Pascale DéryStarting in September 2026
Starting in September 2026, SYNTHÈSE will instigate new activities to foster research and development efforts, research and production projects, and networking initiatives in accordance with neutral governance practices so as to boost collaboration and innovation among the various players in the sector. New partners will move into Îlot Balmoral, inviting more than 1,000 students to take part in this dynamic laboratory dedicated to the development of new skill sets.
Credit : Stéphane Brügger | Provencher RoyExplore Îlot Balmoral floor by floor
The building features eleven storeys, totalling 27,850 square metres. It was designed to meet the needs of the video-game, animation, and digital-experience sectors.
National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
The NFB occupies nearly 10,000 square metres on six floors, including a basement warehouse. Its spaces include a multifunctional room open to the public and a viewing theatre.
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École NAD-UQAC
École des arts numériques, de l’animation et du design at UQAC provides specialized programs in 3D animation, visual effects, design, and video games in facilities that encourage hands-on learning.
Consortium of five CEGEPs
The eighth floor contains classrooms for continuing education programs, including Attestation of College Studies (ACS) in digital production offered by the consortium of five CEGEPs.
UQAT Montréal
UQAT’s Montréal campus provides specialized programs in visual effects, 3D production, and video games, in settings designed for hands-on learning.
SYNTHÈSE, CDRIN, industry partners and spaces for graduate and postgraduate researchers
An area for strategic coordination and neutral governance designed to foster applied research and collaboration with studios.
Laboratories and prototyping studios
Highly specialized laboratory and prototyping studio spaces designed for interdisciplinary digital production. These high-tech environments enable experimentation, prototype development, and collaboration among various experts in the sector.
Shared spaces
The shared spaces at Îlot Balmoral have been designed to encourage movement, interaction, and collaborative work.
Library
Meeting spaces are available to researchers, teachers, students, and studios to encourage collaborative projects.
Dining room
The Balmoral dining room, accessible to all partners, is a bright and tastefully decorated setting that is sure to delight one and all.
Prototyping laboratories
The top floor features immersion laboratories, various prototyping studios (motion capture, projections), and classrooms (also present throughout the building).
Library
Meeting spaces are available to researchers, teachers, students, and studios to encourage collaborative projects.
Dining room
The Balmoral dining room, accessible to all partners, is a bright and tastefully decorated setting that is sure to delight one and all.
Prototyping laboratories
The top floor features immersion laboratories, various prototyping studios (motion capture, projections), and classrooms (also present throughout the building).
Partners of the Creative Digital Production Excellence Hub
View associated researchers →
Îlot Balmoral: an architectural masterpiece
Identity and outreach
Îlot Balmoral, designed for Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM), features distinctive red cladding that is in keeping with the Entertainment District’s identity as a hub for the arts. The building, which has garnered multiple awards, contributes to the vitality of Place des Festivals.
Credit : Stéphane Brügger | Provencher RoyArchitectural vision
Designed by architect Eugenio Carelli (Provencher-Roy), the building has transformed its surrounding urban landscape and is a beacon of the city’s creativity. It was built to lofty aesthetic and eco-responsibility standards and is LEED-NC Gold-certified.
We pay tribute to architect Eugenio Carelli, who passed away shortly before the building was completed.Light and movement
Thanks to its fully glazed façade, Îlot Balmoral is truly a showcase for natural light and panoramic vistas. The central chasm between the north and south wings illuminates the building as a whole and follows the natural walkway connecting the two neighbouring metro stations.
Crédit photo : Stéphane Brügger | Provencher RoyDistinctive features
The red curtain symbolizes the arts and theatre as well as the area’s flamboyant character. The raised esplanade is accessible from both sides as an extension of Place des Festivals. The green roof is covered with lush plants, making the building even more eco-friendly.
Crédit photo : Stéphane Brügger | Provencher RoyGetting to Îlot Balmoral
Îlot Balmoral is located at 1501 de Bleury (at the corner of de Maisonneuve), right in the heart of Place des Festivals. In addition to being directly connected to the Place-des-Arts metro station on the green line, it is a short walk to several bus routes, cycle paths, and an extensive pedestrian network.
The building has indoor parking for 186 vehicles, six electric-vehicle charging stations, and a secure area that can accommodate more than 70 bicycles, with changing rooms and showers for cyclists. Its immediate proximity to iconic businesses and educational institutions, including Eidos (gaming studio), INIS (audio-visual training institute), Réseau Hexagram (arts, culture, and technology research and production network), UQAM, Concordia, and McGill (universities), and SAT (Society for Arts and Technology), makes Îlot Balmoral part of a vibrant cultural-production and innovation ecosystem.
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