Bardas & Bain Capital Get Green Light for 510K SF Hollywood Film Studio Complex

Bardas Investment Group and Bain Capital Real Estate have secured final approval from the Los Angeles City Council to construct Echelon Studios, an expansive entertainment complex spanning 510,300 square feet.

Project Details and Features

Situated at 5601 Santa Monica Boulevard, the development will occupy the site of a former Sears department store, covering 5 acres. Initial estimates pegged the project's cost at $450 million. The six-story complex will house 110,000 square feet of production studios, 388,000 square feet of offices, 12,300 square feet of ground-floor restaurants, and an underground parking garage accommodating 981 cars.

Studio Facilities and Design

Echelon Studios will feature four 19,000-square-foot soundstages, one 15,000-square-foot flex stage, and office spaces within two five-story towers, interconnected with a bungalow village of executive and creative suites. The project's design, helmed by Rios of Leimert Park, showcases a striking 93-foot-tall structure with glass offices resembling stacked clear Legos, complete with terrace decks. House & Robertson, based in Culver City, share the project's design responsibilities.

City Council Approval and Development Timeline

The Los Angeles City Council's approval included waiving a requirement for dedicating land to widen surrounding streets, previously imposed on a different project deemed obsolete. Construction of Echelon Studios, once groundbreaking occurs, is anticipated to span three years, although a specific timeline remains undisclosed.

Acquisition and Joint Venture

Bardas and Bain Capital acquired the property for $81.9 million in early 2021. The joint venture, established in 2019, is committed to developing over 1 million square feet of new film studios. Among their projects is a $600 million, 620,000-square-foot studio campus at the historic Television Center, located approximately a mile away at 6311 Romaine Street. This 6.5-acre site was purchased in early 2022 for $135 million.