Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) and Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) announce the relocation of École des arts numériques, de l’animation et du design (NAD) to the Îlot Balmoral building, in the heart of Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles.

The $40-million Îlot Balmoral project allows École NAD to move into new space on the 5th, 6th, and 7th floors of the flagship building under construction in the city’s Place des Festivals. In the short term, thanks to financial support from Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur, UQAC will be able to equip three floors of the building to provide students with a unique learning experience, at the cutting edge of industry and research requirements in the field, starting in the fall of 2019.

“We are delighted to officially announce today NAD’s move to Îlot Balmoral,” said Nancy Shoiry, Executive Director of Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal. “We have believed in and supported this project from the beginning in cooperation with NAD, UQAC, and Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur. Synergy with the NFB is promising and is perfectly in line with our vision for Îlot Balmoral. With these first two tenants, nearly two-thirds of the building will be dedicated to creation and innovation through film and the digital arts.”

Valérie Plante, mayor of Montreal, said, “NAD’s move to Îlot Balmoral is excellent news. Not only do we get to keep a creative and vibrant institution in Montreal, but its location in Quartier des spectacles alongside the National Film Board is sure to boost innovation and vitality. I applaud what SHDM is doing to develop projects consistent with Ville de Montréal’s desire to make progress in the social, economic and, in this case, cultural arenas.”

The announcement of the move gave UQAC rector Nicole Bouchard an opportunity to proudly highlight the courage and vision of the entire team that worked on the project, which, when complete, will be an important milestone for the school. “This is not only a significant moment in the history of École des arts numériques, de l’animation et du design, but also in UQAC’s history. It is one of the largest investments in the history of our institution.”

École NAD’s move to Îlot Balmoral, scheduled for early summer 2019, will allow the school to grow, make its undergraduate and, in time, graduate programs more accessible, and increase its research initiatives and continuing education offerings, all of which play a key role in development of the creative industries in Montreal and throughout Quebec. Synergy with Quartier des spectacles, the National Film Board (NFB), companies in the sector, and the cultural community will provide École NAD with an environment conducive to the development of talent and innovative practices in teaching and applied and fundamental research.

About École NAD
Founded in 1922 and located in Montreal, École des arts numériques, de l’animation et du design (NAD) at UQAC offers education and R&D opportunities in 3D animation, visual effects, design, and the digital arts. In the last 26 years, NAD has trained thousands of 3D animators who now work for major companies around the world in the film, television, and video game industries. In 2008 École NAD and UQAC created a partnership that gives more than 350 students a year access to a range of university programs that are unique in Quebec.