Lights, Camera, Action: The Future-forward Renovation of a Hollywood Studio

Demand for entertainment content is also driving demand to modernize production studios.

Since the golden age of cinema, Hollywood studio spaces have been providing the grounds for creative content makers. In today’s world of streaming platforms, the need for new content keeps growing, which means modern studio spaces catering to content producers’ unique needs are also in high demand. An analysis by Deloitte found that demand for bespoke production studios will continue to outpace supply in Los Angeles and New York City at least through 2025.

BLT Enterprises, a Los Angeles-based development and investment firm, recently decided to fully renovate the 25,000-square-foot film studio and soundstage that it owns in Hollywood. The renovations proved to be more extensive than originally planned but ultimately resulted in state-of-the-art upgrades the company believes will benefit all types of content producers, from online influencers to filmmakers and everyone in between.

Take One: Hollywood Exchange

Prior to undertaking the studio renovations, BLT Enterprises had previously acquired and renovated a 200,000-square-foot creative campus that was rebranded as The Hollywood Exchange in 2021. The historic property, previously known as Television Center and once housing the original Technicolor headquarters, had a rich and iconic Hollywood pedigree but needed modernization. BLT acquired the gated campus, with 11 buildings spanning 6.4 acres and nearly 800 parking spaces, for $64 million in 2020.

The firm wanted to maintain the property’s tradition while also delivering new amenities desired by today’s innovative content producers, including outdoor gathering areas, updated lighting, and a quiet, efficient air-conditioning system. Some of the more outdated spaces were converted into modern creative offices, and major renovations were performed on the lobby and the buildings’ common areas. New paving and landscaping were added, while refreshed exterior painting enhanced the recognizable look of the buildings. New outdoor murals and upgrades to the rentable production spaces provided the finishing touches.

After renovations totaling $4 million were completed, BLT Enterprises was approached off-market to sell the property, and The Hollywood Exchange was sold in 2022 for $135 million.

Second Act: BLT Studios

The firm soon realized it was time to update its wholly owned and operated film studio and soundstage property, also located in Hollywood. BLT Studios includes three stages: Stage Two is 9,502 square feet and located in the original building, built in the 1920s; Stage Three, the smallest at 6,472 square feet, was built in the 1940s; and Stage One, at 10,886 square feet, was built around 1980.  

BLT had acquired the production studios in 2019 after noticing a yearslong undersupply of soundstages and film studios, fueled in part by the cyclical tailwinds of the convergence of the technology, media and entertainment industries. Given streaming services’ consistent and high demand for content, the firm recognized there was a gap to fill. To tackle this new venture, however, BLT would need to make some major changes.

Although the property had been updated through the years, more than a decade had passed since the last large-scale upgrades. “Studio spaces like ours go through a significant amount of foot traffic,” noted Christina Hirigoyen, general manager of sales for BLT Enterprises, who led the studio renovation team. “It’s a business of quick turnover, with crews coming in for a few days at a time, on repeat, year over year.” While the studio space business model has historically involved only short-term leases, it is shifting more toward long-term leases.

While routine maintenance can keep a studio space clean and functional, sweeping updates are eventually needed to satisfy the latest technology demands of content producers.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

BLT understood that undertaking extensive renovations would require closing the studios for a time. The potential existed for a significant loss in revenue, especially if renovations dragged on longer than expected.

“Our philosophy was measure twice and cut once,” explained Rob Solomon, president of BLT Enterprises. “We estimated the renovations would take six weeks, so we planned to be closed for eight weeks. The last thing we wanted to do was to have to call a client to tell them they couldn’t film on the date we had told them they could — that would be devastating for everyone. If that happens, you’ve lost a client for life.”

The firm started planning for the process six months out, choosing a window of time for the renovations that would minimize impact on its clients. The team also coordinated closely with those clients who had already booked studio time while the studios would be closed to find alternative solutions.

Modern by Design

Once work began in summer 2023, the project team dove into extensive renovations. On the interior, all exposed ductwork and soundproofing were painted black to improve camera operation and ensure zero reflection from stage lighting. Additionally, the interiors of all three studios were repainted a bright white, and new furniture was added for comfort and functionality.

At Stage One, the cyclorama (see feature box) was in worse shape than anticipated. It had been patched and painted multiple times over the past 25 years, and more than 3 inches of paint had built up on the walls and floor. The team decided to strip it down completely to the original concrete and framing and then replastered the entire surface.

Exterior renovations included a new HVAC system, 13 energy-efficient air-conditioning units and a new PVC roof. Extra insulation was installed around the venting and ductwork for the HVAC system, ensuring any ambient air-conditioning noise would be minimalized, which is a crucial detail for film and sound production.

“The details matter,” Hirigoyen noted. “Our goal is to provide every client with an ideal studio experience so that we can develop and nourish long-lasting relationships.”

During the renovation, one longtime client couldn’t put off test shots that had been planned during the studio’s closure, so the team found a way to accommodate them. The new air conditioning had yet to be installed, so temporary air-conditioning units were brought in to ensure the production could continue as planned.

Thanks in large part to clear communication and consistent follow-through, BLT didn’t lose a single client during the renovation and closure process.

“We opened back up for business when we said we would because we planned well,” Solomon said. “We expected it could take longer and cost more than we anticipated, so we were prepared for a worst-case scenario. Even when it came to construction, we didn’t choose the lowest bidder — we chose the lowest qualified bidder. This was technical, intricate work that needed to get done right and on time, and we chose our partners carefully.”

Altogether, the BLT Studios renovation cost $1 million and was completed in eight weeks. Since its reopening in September 2023, bookings have been steady.

“We’re busier than ever,” Hirigoyen said. “There’s no slowdown in sight, and we’re thrilled to continue supporting the industry’s growth, now and in the future.”

Nikolette Huberman Jacob is a partner at BLT Enterprises.

Made for Drama: Cycloramas Cycloramas — or “cyc walls” as they are often called in the production industry — are blank, curved walls that serve as seamless, seemingly infinite backdrops for filming. Without corners, there are no hard edges for the cameras to catch. A cyc wall is key for many green or blue screen special effects, also known as chroma keying. In some larger productions, a high-quality background is projected onto the cyc wall during filming to help create an immersive background for the actors. Other productions add background in postproduction to simulate reality.   The word “cyclorama” is also used to describe a concave wall at the very back of a stage to create the illusion of sky in a theater. Cyclorama can also describe a painting or panoramic image on the inside of a cylindrical platform that makes the viewer feel as if they are standing in the middle of  a 360-degree view. This type of image was wildly popular in the late 19th century, when cycloramas were used to tell epic stories of battles and notable events, complete with narration and music. Most major cities had at least one cyclorama, and some were transported around the country for visitors to enjoy. Some of these historic cycloramas are still available to view throughout the world, including one that depicts the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania and one that shows the palace and gardens of Versailles, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

• Magazine Article
• Development/Ownership
• Industrial Property
• Design
• Renovation