A massive Echelon Studios Hollywood film and television production studio with a budget of $450 million is set to open in Los Angeles.
According to the Los Angeles Times, real estate development firm BARDAS Investment Group is currently constructing the studio on the former Sears department store site along Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood. The facility is scheduled to open its doors early next year.
The total project cost is approximately $450 million, spanning a 5-acre site that will feature five soundstages and comprehensive production support facilities. The complex will also include set design spaces, offices, a base camp for production equipment and trailers, screening rooms, and a café.
In a unique design to maximize the limited footprint, standard studio facilities have been arranged in a vertical stack. The upper levels will feature landscaped bungalow-style workspaces offering panoramic views of the Hollywood Sign, the Griffith Observatory, and Downtown LA.
The basement and lower floors will house a parking structure capable of accommodating over 1,000 vehicles. Thick concrete layers and specialized acoustic insulation have been installed to prevent vehicle vibrations and noise from reaching the soundstages.
This major investment comes at a challenging time for Southern California’s film production industry. Data from FilmLA indicates that feature film shoots dropped 20% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, while television production declined by 30%.
Nevertheless, developers remain optimistic that expanded state tax credits for film and television will help revitalize the local production market. David Simon, CEO of Bardas, stated that Hollywood remains one of the world’s most powerful brands, representing not just a physical location but an entire industry. Several production companies are reportedly touring the active construction site and negotiating lease agreements.
