Montréal has long been a creative gathering point – leading the way in music, sciences (like AI and neuroscience), fashion and more. As the gateway into North America, Montréal remains a hot spot for exciting new developments. Now, a group of forward-thinking organizations under the leadership of legendary Québec entrepreneur and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté have come together to create Zú, a creative incubator of boundless potential in the heart of the city’s Golden Square Mile – and an inspiringly buzzing venue for meetings and events.
Location, location, location
Occupying the historic Maison Alcan, Zú’s home base is a dynamic meeting place for Montréalers and beyond (recent visitors include none other than U2’s Bono). Offering work and meeting space, there’s sure to be an electric atmosphere of innovation across every floor. Situated amongst some of the city’s oldest, grandest Golden Square Mile homes – all built between 1850 and 1930 – Zú transforms Montréal’s cityscape in more ways than one.
Unforgettable rooms for unforgettable meetings
Zú strikes a perfect blend between the historic and modern, with cutting-edge design elements alongside period touches. Several spaces are available for meetings and events, and attendees will surely find inspiration in the creative atmosphere fostered by the daily occupants.
- Le Grand Salon – on Zú’s main floor, adjacent to the entrance, the Grand Salon can host up to 100 people for meetings and cocktail events.
- Le Petit Salon – also on the main floor, the Petit Salon has a capacity of 90.
- 8-person meeting rooms – Four small meeting rooms on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th floors with comfortable chairs and long tables with a capacity of 8 are available.
- 6-person meeting room – One smaller meeting room for 6 is available on the 3rd level.
- XR/VR Lab – A production suite for immersive content, including virtual, augmented or mixed reality projects, is available for rent on the 4th floor.
- Production Rooms – Two production rooms on the 4th floor are available for rent, including ProTools and video editing software, perfect for piecing together videos or recording podcasts.
- Creative Workstations –Zú’s 4th floor features 8 creative workstations with computers and seating.
Bringing together major players
With a focus on creative technologies and content creation in the entertainment industries, Zú works closely with innovators and industry leaders in developing startups and projects based in Québec and around the world. The aim is nothing short of promoting world-class technologies and projects – all with a connection to Montréal.
The project’s major stakeholders have each brought new ways of thinking and increased levels of success to Montréal’s creative industries – and their union is sure to take those accomplishments even further. A quick look at their respective CVs:
C2 Montréal: One of the world’s most exciting business conferences and a true international leader in new creative approaches to business.
Lune Rouge: Part of Cirque du Soleil founder Laliberté’s Lune Rouge initiative, itself a vibrant collective of entrepreneurs gathered together to “capitalize on one of Québec’s most valuable resources: its unique creative talents.”
HUB Montréal: HUB Montréal is a marketplace showcasing digital creativity in the fields of culture and entertainment, and a springboard for local talent onto the world stage. HUB 2018 will also include a follow-up on the data collection at C2, presenting the concrete solutions and conclusions formed from that previous gathering.
Other partners worth noting include: Concordia University (whose Jean-Claude Bustros, Chair of the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema will start a residence as a research-creator in October 2019), the National Film Board of Canada, the Phi Centre, Mutek and Ville de Montréal.
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