Hollywood Developer Bets $450 Million on Old-School Studio Revival

Commercial real estate developer David Simon is investing $450 million in Echelon Studios Hollywood, a project designed to revitalize the film industry by reviving the concept of a classic studio lot. Located on Santa Monica Boulevard on the site of a former Sears store, the 600,000-square-foot campus is being built vertically to maximize space on its five-acre footprint.

The Echelon Studios complex will feature four 18,000-square-foot soundstages with 40-foot clear heights, alongside a 14,000-square-foot flex stage with a 25-foot clear height. The development also includes 150,000 square feet dedicated to production support, office space, mills, and basecamp areas. An additional 350,000 square feet will be allocated for bungalows and workspace.

A key design element is a landscaped cluster of private bungalows surrounding a 25,000-square-foot elevated courtyard, offering panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills, the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, and downtown Los Angeles. Architect Andrew Wright of RIOS addressed the challenge of fitting a large studio onto a smaller site by building vertically.

Simon, through his company BARDAS Investment Group, began planning the project approximately five years ago, anticipating continued high demand for stage space. He believes that renewed interest in filming in Hollywood is driven by expanded state tax credits and a potential 20% federal filming credit, encouraging industry professionals to prefer working locally.

Significant engineering efforts were focused on soundproofing, particularly concerning the nearly 1,000 parking spaces located beneath the soundstages. Layers of insulation, drywall, and thick concrete were incorporated to mitigate noise and vibration risks.

The project aims to recapture the essence of classic Hollywood by including bungalows, a feature Simon considers crucial for the authentic studio atmosphere. The development is situated in the heart of Hollywood's production corridor, between Netflix and Paramount Studios, and is slated to open early next year, with potential tenants already touring the facilities.

An artistic installation by Los Angeles artist Matthew Brandt, featuring a collage of Hollywood skyline images on stainless steel panels, will be visible from Santa Monica Boulevard. Echelon Studios Hollywood is expected to open in early 2027.