The Hollywood skyline is set for a major transformation, as Bardas Investment Group and Bain Capital have secured a hefty $300 million construction loan to bring their ambitious Echelon Studios project to life. This financial boost, revealed in loan documents filed with Los Angeles County, comes from Delaware-based Blue Sky Servicing and is set to fuel the development of a 600,000-square-foot office and studio complex at 5601 West Santa Monica Boulevard.
According to a report in The Real Deal, the loan is structured as a three-year term with a potential one-year extension. Bardas and Bain acquired the property in February 2021 for nearly $82 million, according to public records by The Registry.
Bardas’ and Bain’s vision for the 5.5-acre site is impressive. Plans filed with the City of Los Angeles reveal a multi-faceted complex encompassing 110,000 square feet of dedicated studio space, 388,000 square feet of office space, and even 12,000 square feet for restaurants. The project includes plans for 90,000 square feet of bungalow-style offices, creating a unique blend of work and leisure spaces.
This development marks a significant milestone for the area. The existing 98,000-square-foot commercial building is set to be demolished to make way for the new studio complex. Construction has already begun since last month, and Bardas and Bain aim for a grand opening in 2026.
The Echelon Studios project is just one piece of Bardas’ strategy to expand its studio footprint in Hollywood. The firm has several other projects in the pipeline, including production spaces on Cahuenga Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue and a larger development on Romaine Street. This flurry of activity highlights the growing demand for studio space in Hollywood as content creation continues to boom.
The Bardas and Bain project isn’t the only development reshaping the area. Nearby, Hudson Pacific Properties is also making its mark with plans for a new movie studio on Romaine Street, just across from the Sunset Las Palmas studio complex, which it acquired in 2017.
