We have all experienced the change from more traditional formats of cinema and live TV to the binge watching of streaming services that weren’t so prevalent 15 years ago. This shift intensified during the pandemic as we consumed media far quicker than before, with a profound impact on our built environment.

Over the last five years there has been an unprecedented requirement to expand existing and create new film and TV studio space to meet movie makers’ plans around the world. Scott Brownrigg alone have worked on 7 million sq ft of studio and media space worth over £2billion.

Historically, there have been three key approaches to meeting demand for studio space:

1. Repurposing existing industrial buildings, such as aircraft hangars, that naturally lend themselves to media production with wide and high, open internal space. This can be an effective solution, particularly in reducing embodied carbon associated with the build, however, does require adaptation and the installation of additional structures to support overhead gantries.
2. Creating new permanent structures flexible enough in design to be used for multiple content production, or to be converted to industrial use at a later stage. This approach provides the opportunity to carefully tailor the design to meet both studio and staff requirements, however, this usually comes with the highest cost in terms of embodied carbon and space required.
3. Creating temporary structures that can be easily constructed and dismantled, before being recycled and/or reused to contribute to the circular economy. Offering past paced delivery, and the ability to let the space 4-6 months from the initial spade in the ground. The downside of this approach is that it isn’t always spatially efficient and/or depending upon the structure, it isn’t able to provide the required acoustic qualities.

We believe the ideal solution lies somewhere between all three approaches – a hybrid approach. Utilising both permanent and temporary structures can enable speed to market whilst providing high quality spaces that can fulfil both sustainability and wellbeing requirements. Allowing us to meet demand more effectively and provide ultimate future flexibility to a creative industry.