January 31, 2023 1:00 pm back to news
New Media Manitoba Bringing StudioLab xR to 201!
New Media Manitoba (NMM) will soon join “Team 201” in their brand-new StudioLab xR, a 5,000-square-foot virtual production studio managed by the non-profit industry group.
Dedicated to supporting Manitoba’s Interactive digital media industry, New Media Manitoba works to foster growth through education and skills training. The NMM team creates Interactive digital media workforce awareness through collaboration with schools from kindergarten through post-secondary. In addition, the program provides business development and market access support, emerging talent and employment diversity programs, networking and expert-led events, and government advocacy work.
Jonathan Le, New Media Manitoba’s Training Manager, has over 15 years of experience working with advanced creative technologies, project management, and community outreach.
He shared his thoughts on why 201 Portage is the right fit for NMM.
“As a non-profit, there were constraints to what we needed and specifics we were looking for,” says Le. “These included addressing access issues, ensuring the space is available to all citizens, ceiling height, electrical needs, building age, etc. Finding a space that checks all of our boxes seemed like a difficult task. That was until our agent showed us the space at 201.”
“We’re so pleased to be at this historic site right on the corner of Portage and Main. There is just so much going for 201 that it was quite an easy decision to make.”
Supported by the Province of Manitoba with an investment of almost $1.5 M, StudioLab xR will be a 5,500-square-foot facility and the latest addition to the province’s technology and innovation landscape.
“The project is first of its kind; real-time tech based on game engines spurring a lot of advancements. We’re hoping to jumpstart this industry here in town. Harvard Developments’ support of what could be considered an untraditional project shows Harvard’s forward-thinking nature to share this vision and be motivated by the community good”.
“The relationship between Harvard and New Media Manitoba has been fantastic. Seeing the downtown investment and the work they put into the building is amazing. We were blown away by how beautiful the space was!”
StudioLab xR is scheduled to open in spring 2023.
“I’m looking forward to bringing people, learners and companies back downtown,” says Le. “It’s exciting being together again to collaborate and learn after the isolation of the pandemic.”
More information on the StudioLab xR Project can be found here: https://newmediamanitoba.com/introducing-studiolab-xr/
