Facilities
Challenge: Redeveloping approximately 15 acres of mostly desolate, vacant land on the south side of Chicago into a state-of-the-art film studio campus.
Solution: Provide quality design and best engineering practices for civil, structural, and MEP systems to create a campus that is both sustainable and resilient.
Result: The project is still in progress. All metrics indicate that the project is on time and on schedule.
Regal Mile Studios is a state-of-the-art film studio campus with approximately 300,000 sq. ft. of floor area. This redevelopment requires removing two existing streets with old utility infrastructure. The proposed buildings include six new studio buildings, two mills, a café, flex space, offices, and a green room. The site improvements include two new parking lots/flex spaces and loading berths capable of handling heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. The project is considered a regulated development and will be required to meet the Chicago Stormwater Ordinance for rate and volume control. The proposed solution includes a combination of subsurface detention and BMPs, as well as new wet and dry utilities to serve the campus.
The site includes MEP/FP systems for all buildings with an integrated building automation system that provides an environment suitable for film production—able to quickly adjust for noise levels, equipment shutdown periods during filming, and other factors. All MEP systems are designed to meet the latest codes and Cinelease standards. Packaged rooftop units and exhaust fans will provide HVAC for all the buildings, with miscellaneous cabinet heaters and split system AC units—used as needed. Electrical services from ComEd will be used for all site power and lighting needs while providing specific power requirements for the studio buildings.
