Studio Gang

Columbia College Chicago Media Production Center

Columbia College Chicago Media Production Center
© Steve Hall

COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO MEDIA PRODUCTION CENTER

Studio Gang

ARCHITECTS
Studio Gang

LOCATION
1600 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616, USA

PHOTOGRAPHS
Steve Hall

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
W.E. O’Neil

Text description provided by architect.

The project makes behind-the-scenes aspects of the film making process visible in order to use the building as a teaching tool. It also demonstrates technical achievement and sustainability.

Columbia College Chicago Media Production Center
Columbia College Chicago Media Production Center

CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM SOLUTIONS

The design enables students to see into teaching spaces to learn about all aspects of film making. The production program is sized to allow full class participation inside these typically small back-of-house spaces.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY STUDIO GANG ARCHITECTS

Led full design and structural renovation from concept through completion. Columbia College wanted a professional quality media teaching facility that would encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among students and faculty.

Columbia College Chicago Media Production Center
© Steve Hall

The building includes three large sound stages for film, video and motion capture instruction as well as teaching space for, lighting, set-making, directing and animation classes. The largest sound stage is sized to allow all of the students working on a film project to have class in the same space.

The Film Department Chairman sees this collaborative environment instigating a “pedagogical shift” for students and instructors. What was once taught in individual spaces, separate buildings even, can now be taught collectively.

Further, through the design, parts of the film making process that were once invisible like wardrobe, prop storage, and set-construction are made visible. In doing so, the building enhances the interaction between students and exposes them to all parts of the production process.

Columbia College Chicago Media Production Center

Like film, the building uses spatial layering and oblique compositional lines to create depths of field and light is used to give “deep focus” and to animate movement across, through and within the framed views.

As one walks through the building light and perspective are manipulated to create spaces similar to great cinematic ones.

Sound and vibration isolation from urban noise and adjacent train tracks was an important part of the technical criteria met by the design.

In addition, special attention was give to perfectly flat floors for rolling cameras, low velocity air for quietness during filming, and durable surfaces for students moving large carts and lights into spaces.

Columbia College Chicago Media Production Center
Steve Hall © Hedrich Blessing


Columbia College Chicago Media Production Center
Axo
Columbia College Chicago Media Production Center
Plan

Studio Gang
T +1 773 3841212
Studio Gang
1520 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60642, United States