Glancing around, the Centre for Digital Media is more than just a building. It is a launchpad for digital dreams. The Centre for Digital Media located on Great Northern Way in Vancouver. It stands as a hub for collaboration. Learners, educational leaders and industry partners converge here.
In 2001, Finning International donated land for this purpose. This gift helped create the Great Northern Way Campus Trust. A $40 million grant from British Columbia followed. The Centre for Digital Media was born in 2007.
Let’s step back to 2005. Gerri Sinclair presented a business plan. She envisioned a world centre for digital media. It would feature a master’s program. This program would be embedded within the industry. The vision included a new building on the Great Northern Way campus.
Committees formed with representatives from partner institutions. They consulted with industry experts. Inspired by Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center, they shaped the program. The Centre for Digital Media now offers a Master of Digital Media program.
In 2012, the Centre for Digital Media opened a new LEED Gold building. This became the centerpiece of the campus. It provides learning space and housing for students. The address CDM 685 is derived from its address. It is located at 685 Great Northern Way.
The Master of Digital Media program is unique. Four leading academic institutions jointly accredit it. These are UBC, SFU, Emily Carr University and BCIT. Students benefit from the insights of each institution. Graduates become alumni of all four.
The curriculum is designed with industry input. Partners like Electronic Arts and Microsoft contribute. They provide internships and practical project opportunities. Guest speakers and mentors enrich the student experience. The goal is to produce graduates with a flexible skill set.
Students work on industry projects. They create products for real-world partners. These projects simulate professional work schedules. Teams prototype and produce tangible results. This hands-on experience prepares them for digital media careers.
The Centre for Digital Media also fosters startups. Students can pitch their own projects. They present to faculty, industry leaders and investors. Successful projects enter a venture internship period. Several companies have spun out of CDM, including Quupe Technologies.
The Centre for Digital Media boasts impressive facilities. These cater to the specific needs of digital media students. A filming area with a green screen and editing labs are available. Classrooms feature Dolby 5.1 capabilities and high-end projectors.
The faculty comprises industry veterans and academic leaders. They guide students through the program. Mary Lim is the current director. Founding faculty members include Tom Wujec and Dr. Gerri Sinclair.
The Centre for Digital Media continues to evolve. It adapts to the changing needs of the digital media landscape. It helps build digital futures in British Columbia and beyond. It provides its students with all the required tools. It is a beacon for innovation and collaboration.