AFS Announces the Launch of the Creative Media Center at Austin Studios

(Photo by Suzanne Cordeiro)

MEDIA CONTACT
Brady Dyer, Communications Manager
brady@austinfilm.org

November 19, 2019

Austin Film Society Announces the Completion of National Guard Building Renovation, to be called The Creative Media Center at Austin Studios

Creative Media Center to Provide Accessible Space and Jobs in Austin’s Film/TV Sector

Creative Media Center is Site for New Work from the City of Austin’s Art In Public Places Program—Split Diopter by Eric Eley

(AUSTIN, TEXAS)—Austin Film Society, in partnership with the City of Austin, is thrilled to announce the completion of the Creative Media Center at Austin Studios, a 20-acre production facility. The new Creative Media Center and the adjacent Stage 7 expand Austin Studios by 38,500 square feet of space available for short term production rentals or long-term leases to independent filmmakers, production companies, and other businesses in the field. Austin Studios is a collaborative and synergistic facility that supports Austin’s dynamic film and creative community. Through its campus expansion, Austin Film Society is positioned for significant additional impact on Austin’s film/television sector, including the creation of new jobs, more accessible spaces for emerging artists, and independent, locally-owned film-related businesses.

Austin Film Society Founder and Artistic Director Richard Linklater said, “The City of Austin has proven itself a visionary partner to the film industry. They entrusted Austin Film Society to create this facility 20 years ago, helped us transform airplane hangars into soundstages in 2006, and worked with us to create a building that will provide essential space for independent filmmakers and small businesses.”

Formerly a base for the Texas National Guard, the Creative Media Center is a LEED-Certified adaptive reuse project aligning with the community’s vision for the redevelopment of Mueller, as expressed in the Mueller Design Guidelines. It was designed by the global architecture, design and planning firm Gensler, built by Swinerton, and project-managed by Broaddus & Associates. Catherine Sckerl of Espero Planning and Design represented Austin Film Society and led the project team through a multi-year process. This voter approved project is managed by the City of Austin Economic Development Department with assistance from the Public Works Department.

Now at the shell and core phase, the Creative Media Center is flexible space, and available to be finished out to tenant specifications. Fronting Tilley Street, the building is framed by native grass lawns, courtyards, and a paseo. A central lobby and meeting spaces will be available for community use. The adjoining Stage 7 is complete and now available for diverse short-term or long-term rentals.

Download high-resolution images here. Credit: all photos by Suzanne Cordeiro.

Split Diopter, new Art in Public Places Commission
The Creative Media Center’s front lawn is the site for Split Diopter, a large-scale sculpture by Texas artist Eric Eley, commissioned by the City of Austin’s Art in Public Places program. Commissioned specifically for the new Creative Media Center, Split Diopter speaks directly to the history of film by referencing the anatomy of a film camera lens at an enormous scale—a nod to the constantly evolving way we view film and narrative media. Comprised of square ceramic blocks supported by an internal steel structure, the artwork is internally lit by LED lights in the three colors that compose all projected images: red/blue/green.

Eley states of his work, which was placed, mortared, and finished by hand, “I want the sculpture to speak to the collaborative nature of film production where many parts, people, and processes come together to create a cohesive whole.”

Background
Since 2000, Austin Studios has provided much-needed infrastructure to the moving image industries, catalyzing the region as a hub for film and media production, drawing more than 625 productions to the region and generating more than 8,000 jobs and a $2.1 billion economic impact. In addition to film and television productions who use the campus on a short-term basis, Austin Studios is also home to 18 film and film-related companies, mostly small and independent businesses, including Richard Linklater’s Detour Filmproduction, Chapman Leonard Studio Equipment Inc., Rooster Teeth, MPS Camera & Lighting, the casting agencies of Beth Sepko and Vicky Boone, and others. Being co-located at Austin Studios, the tenants of the new Creative Media Center will be able to benefit from the many production services and amenities already offered on the campus, including camera rentals, casting services, stage rentals, large cyclorama, and mill/wardrobe space.

ABOUT AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY
Founded in 1985 by filmmaker Richard Linklater, AFS creates life-changing opportunities for filmmakers, catalyzes Austin and Texas as a creative hub, and brings the community together around great film. AFS supports filmmakers towards career leaps, encouraging exceptional artistic projects with grants and support services. AFS operates Austin Studios, a 20-acre production facility, to attract and grow the creative media ecosystem. Austin Public, a space for our city’s diverse mediamakers to train and collaborate, provides many points of access to filmmaking and film careers. The AFS Cinema is an ambitiously programmed repertory and first run arthouse with broad community engagement. By hosting premieres, local and international industry events, and the Texas Film Awards, AFS shines the national spotlight on Texas filmmakers while connecting Austin and Texas to the wider film community. AFS is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

ABOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
The City of Austin Economic Development Department influences revenue generation through its programs and investments in order to secure economic mobility for our residents and promote a competitive, sustainable, vibrant and equitable economy for all. For more information, visit www.austintexas.gov/edd and follow on Twitter.

ABOUT BROADDUS & ASSOCIATES
Broaddus & Associates is one of the leading providers of facilities program management, consulting, and planning services in the United States for owners who are planning and developing construction projects. Since our inception in 2000, Broaddus & Associates has assisted numerous public entities with project management services as a part of the $12B in capital projects we have managed, 90% of which have been in Texas. Our firm specializes in large, complex, multi-project programs. We have successfully completed more than thirty programs with a value greater than $100M and eight that exceeded $400M. We provide the experience and personnel to help entities plan and manage their project in a responsive and cost-effective way.

ABOUT GENSLER
Gensler is the global architecture, design and planning firm behind a number of high-profile local projects shaping the future of the city, such as the Austin FC Major League Soccer Stadium, Domain Northside, and planned super-high rise 6 X Guadalupe — which will be the city’s tallest tower. Managing Principal Todd Runkle launched Gensler Austin in 2007, growing the office from a staff of six to more than 100. Their portfolio of work spans every major industry and includes office buildings, hotels, mixed-use developments, master planning and workplace interiors. Founded in 1965, Gensler has more than 6,000 professionals across 48 locations worldwide who leverage the power of design to make the places where people live, work and play more impactful, inspiring and resilient. 

ABOUT SWINERTON
Swinerton provides commercial construction and construction management services throughout the United States and is a 100% employee-owned company. Recognized nationally since 1888, Swinerton is the preferred builder and trusted partner in every market it serves—proudly leading with integrity, passion, and excellence. For more information please visit: https://swinerton.com/

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