Irvine-based Bastien & Associates Inc. will be the architect for the recently announced $350 million El Segundo Multi-Media Center.
The 1.5 million-square-foot center, which is being developed by Ron Flesch, is expected to include a 500-room hotel, high-rise and low-rise offices, an educational campus, and a film studio with 10 sound stages. The 46-acre site was formerly owned by Rockwell International, which used it for airplane hangars, but it has been vacant for the past decade. It is currently owned by Federal Express.
Flesch has hired Gary Bastien for previous jobs, such as designing the $95 million Manhattan Beach Studio. That studio was financed by Shamrock Holdings Inc., an investment company owned by the Roy Disney family.
“We work very well together,” said Flesch.
The exact amount of Bastien’s contract wasn’t revealed, but Flesch said it’s in line with typical projects, where architects are paid 1% to 2% of the project’s cost.
Kevin Harper, an architect at Bastien & Associates, said the Internet is increasing demand for more studios.
“Production companies are signing deals with Internet companies. This requires more production and more space to shoot,” said Harper.
Harper said Bastien is becoming well-known for building studios by using a tilt-up method, which is considered less expensive than traditional methods of building. Bastien is also designing the $105 million Los Angeles Center Studios and a $540 million complex in Spain. n
