Office + Workplace
Decarbonizing the film industry
Film studio design for a Global Content Streaming Company
Can the film industry be sustainable? A film studio design in Albuquerque proves that with a strong vision and the right partnerships, sustainable film production is possible. In 2007, Albuquerque Studios was built in Albuquerque’s newly developed Mesa Del Sol. In 2017, the client acquired the studio, envisioning a broad expansion that would enable great film productions powered by renewable energy.
From campus planning to interior finishes, Dekker designed a film campus that brings the client’s clear vision of a studio that empowers “filmmaker joy” to life.
The new film studio campus expansion is 133 acres, and over 455,160sf of interior space. The design adds a four-story production office, two state-of-the-art sound stages, three mills, and two production-ready backlots to accommodate fluctuations in use. The site also includes a central park and walking/biking paths between facilities. Just outside of the campus is a 16-acre solar array.
Decarbonizing the film industry
The new studio expansion was driven by the client’s commitment to low-carbon solutions and decarbonization, as well as an opportunity to leverage New Mexico’s film tax credits. The design process started by exploring the right mix of sustainable solutions that would meet the energy-intensive needs of film production without sacrificing production amenities.
The sustainability team researched many methods for minimizing embodied energy in construction, including fly ash (a byproduct of coal production) or metakaolin in the concrete, or mass timber construction. Another option considered was CarbonCute, which utilizes captured CO2. After extensive analysis, the design team moved forward with ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling the structure. This was accomplished with over 800 boreholes to an average depth of 300ft. Heat pumps were also used for efficient interior heating and cooling.
A 16-acre solar installation directly adjacent to the studio generates enough power for the daily demands of a studio, as well as support for future expansions. Onsite battery storage provides stable, uninterrupted access to a renewable energy source. This is especially important given the long days of film production.
The solar array is located on state trust land, and the annual ground lease payments generate revenues for the state’s schools. EV charging stations in the parking lot allows employees and visitors to charge their electric vehicles.
Given the film studio’s location in New Mexico’s desert, water conservation was an essential part of the design. While there is extensive pavement to accommodate film production, all water that falls on the site is directed to a central park and specially designed basins that help recharge the groundwater aquifer.
The client’s advocacy for power without reliance on natural gas resulted in a team of architects, engineers, designers, and other partners committed to making this vision real. While some of the low-carbon strategies utilized in this film studio design might be proven tactics for other industries, it is a groundbreaking use case for the film industry.
Campus planning and landscape architecture
Dekker’s Planning and Landscape Architecture studios played a central role in the success of this film studio design.
The new film studio expansion is located in Mesa del Sol, a masterplanned development strategically located close to the Albuquerque airport. This fast-growing development includes multiple multifamily communities alongside commercial and industrial buildings.
As part of the design process, the design team and client hosted meetings with neighborhoods and their residents to discuss the proposed expansion. Ensuring local community engagement helped keep the project moving forward.
Our strong connections to Albuquerque’s Planning Department and Film Office helped to resolve potential issues quickly and keep a fast-track project moving forward safely. The project team developed a dedicated “Tiger Team” to help navigate regulatory challenges by working closely with the City of Albuquerque, and relentless cross-partner problem-solving helped keep the project moving forward.
Flexibility was a crucial aspect of the campus planning. Film studios often fluctuate in occupancy. The site needed to simultaneously accommodate a full production schedule but also avoid wasted resources on lighter production days. Sustainable strategies helped address this challenge by making dual use of amenities, like using the parking lot to capture rainwater for the aquifer, or leveraging excess solar power generated to charge on-site battery storage.
The campus design is organized around a central park and an arroyo that collects stormwater from across the site. Biking and walking paths connect the campus, providing shaded ways for people to move from place to place. The park, landscaped with drought-tolerant plants, also serves as an outdoor filming location.
A spotlight on employee wellness
The new Albuquerque Studios Expansion provides our client all the amenities of a modern production facility, in addition to spaces dedicated to employee wellness.
Our interior design team worked closely with the client to provide inspiring, functional spaces that will serve the client for years to come. Employee spaces include a gym, cafeteria, and multiple gathering spaces. Dressing rooms, laundry rooms, and a screening room support production. A special screening room gives production the opportunity to review media in teams.
Every floor of the production office features an art wall designed by local artists, giving the office a local feel, despite the client being an international multimedia studio. Interior finishes were carefully chosen to be low-emitting, resilient, and easily maintainable, adding to the sustainability of the building.
Using technology and nature to create custom art
For a showstopping ceiling art piece, we collaborated with Sculptform to create a dowel ceiling model. We used a parametric approach to implement changes to the design in mere seconds. This flexibility allowed the design team to adjust all elements of the piece.
The final result is a flowing art piece – inspired by the Rio Grande river – composed of over 1,300 wooden dowels. This piece creates a striking and unique entryway that welcomes employees and visitors as they arrive.
The new film studio expansion in Albuquerque, New Mexico supports future growth not only for our client, but for the community.
Client
Confidential
Location
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Disciplines
Beyond the Building
- Building Performance
- Economic Development
- Sustainability
