Built from scratch in 1994, the college building is set in a plot of land measuring over 6000 sqm and has a landscaped area for the entire community to enjoy.
 
The physical premises were expanded in 2021 and currently have more than 30 rooms of various types, appropriately adapted for practical design and drawing classes and theory lectures. A 180-seat Auditorium equipped for conferences and other events and a Gallery space that can host workshops and/or exhibitions provide a venue for most of the extracurricular activities.
 
At the same time, ESAD's teaching, which is clearly geared towards learning by doing, has a number of Teaching Laboratories which allow students, under the guidance of experienced and committed technicians, to work safely on projects of a pedagogical and/or personal nature.
 
The College Library, with an extensive collection, is primarily known for its range of publications in the fields of Art and Design. The library assistants provide guidance, support and instructions needed to ensure that the facilities are used effectively.
The premises also provide spaces that support teaching activities, such as a Printing Services Centre and a specialized Stationery Shop, as well as an excellent Bar/Canteen.
 
The esad—ideia space, in the center of the city of Matosinhos, includes an area of residences duly equipped to welcome and house national and international guests of ESAD.

The José Coelho dos Santos Auditorium and the ESAD Gallery are designed to host different types of events organized by the ESAD community, such as master classes, presentations (including the results of research and projects developed within the scope of esad—idea, ESAD's research unit, or by students on the Master's course) and cultural activities such as conferences, workshops and exhibitions. The auditorium, with more than 180 seats, hosts activities promoted by ESAD, and can also be used by other organizations, according to the regulations.

ESAD's Library provides a quiet place to research and work on projects, with a wide range of publications in the fields of Art and Design.
The main purposes of the ESAD Library are to:

• Provide access to catalogs, open shelf sections and on-site reference of materials in paper format;
• Guarantee the most effective and efficient selection, acquisition, cataloging, accessibility, conservation and updating of its bibliographic collection;
• To store and provide access to theses, dissertations and internship reports written and defended by the institution's students;
• Offer and promote support services for research and teaching, and provide study spaces;
• Extend and adapt technology systems for searching, looking up and using bibliographic and information resources.

Guidance and an introduction to searching for and locating a document is provided by the assistants who advise on how to use the facility. 
To promote greater participation in the improvement and development of the facility, ESAD's library makes sure that proposals for the acquisition of books or other material of interest to the various users: students, teachers and researchers are considered. The Library's services are subject to the presentation of an identification document.

The Photography, Sound and Video Laboratory offers a varied and rich learning and creative environment, equipped with the required technology. A wide range of tools and equipment are available to students, allowing them to further develop and perfect their practical skills in several creative areas. Access to the studios is by appointment only, and all students have access to brief training on the equipment and facilities, which helps ensure efficient and safe use of the available supplies.

The Photography Studio is equipped with digital cameras for use in studios, as well as light projectors. These tools are essential for creating different lighting effects and meeting the specific needs of each photographic project.

The studio also has photography backdrops, offering students the chance to experiment and create different scenarios. For product photography, there is a photography table specifically designed for this purpose, which makes it possible for students to capture shots with precision and detail. There is also a studio in this space for students who want to experiment with photography and analog development techniques.

The Video Studio is equipped with professional cameras, ideal for producing cinematic quality videos, as well as continuous light projectors that can be adjusted to create different atmospheres and visual effects.
The Sound Studio, thanks to its acoustic characteristics and the equipment provided, allows students to produce high-quality audio; the professional mixing desk means that sound tracks can be recorded, edited and mixed with high precision.

In the Fashion Lab, students can experiment, build on and expand their knowledge. Full-scale materialization and construction allow them to explore specific elements, such as dressmaking techniques, finishes, proportion and the relationship with the body, the fit of a fabric and its specific characteristics.
The Fashion Laboratory is a workspace equipped with the machines, accessories and materials needed to create in the field of fashion design. As a research laboratory, it has all the tools necessary for sewing, pattern-making and draping, such as: running stitch machines, fabric cut and sew machines, knit cut and sew machines, overcasting machines, chloretting machines and eyelet stitch machines.

The Screen Printing Laboratory is a dedicated space for exploring the screen printing technique on different media. This laboratory has a table for opening frames, a heat press, several hand printing easels, screen printing frames and racks.

The Technologies and Materials Laboratory is a place where students can put their ideas into practice using a wide range of materials and techniques. In this laboratory they can work with natural, composite and chemical woods, different types of polymers, metals, fabrics, resins and paints. We have a wide range of tools and machines for tasks such as cutting, drilling, planing, turning, hand and CNC milling, hand and machine sanding, nailing, stapling, gluing, screwing, tacking, spot and stick welding, painting, varnishing and polishing.
The students have the expert support of experienced instructors, trained to not only ensure safe operations, but also to share their vast knowledge to help them carry out their projects. This technical support is essential for students to be able to experiment and learn in a safe and practical way.

The Typography Laboratory gives all students access to historical and contemporary tools and methodologies. The equipment and machines available in the workshop area allow students to explore various graphic techniques: an extensive collection of wooden and lead typefaces of various styles and sizes, various proofing presses used for printing typographic compositions and engravings of different materials (zinc engraving, polymer engraving and linoleum); as well as two A3 risographic duplicators with eight drums of different colors; a photopolymer for engraving on polymer sheets; and binding and finishing materials: thermo-binder, stapler, and automatic cutting guillotine.

The Service Center provides digital services and helps students from the ESAD community with their projects.
Highlights include laser printing on various types of paper as well as CAD plotting and large format printing. It also offers copying, scanning and the creation of student cards.

The bar/canteen offers a range of nutritionally balanced meals, catering for a variety of dietary options. It also provides a range of light meals and drinks for an extended period of the day, allowing the academic community to remain at the college for longer.

ESAD offers its academic community a technical stationery store with a range of materials that are crucial to the teaching-learning process in Digital Arts and Communication Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design and Product Design. This is a community service that strives to meet existing needs with the quality required for learning about different techniques and processes.

The esad—idea premises include a residential area with three bedrooms and a communal kitchen that can host and accommodate international guests with a view to promoting the Arts and Design, namely by organizing conferences, exhibitions, curatorships, artistic residencies, among others.

ESAD — College of Art and Design
Av. Calouste Gulbenkian, 907
4460–268 Senhora da Hora
Matosinhos, Portugal