Regal Mile Studios breaks ground

Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently joined city, community, and business leaders at a groundbreaking ceremony for Regal Mile Studios. Located at 7700 S. Stony Island, The Regal Mile Studios Campus 1 is a 380,000 square foot, seven-acre enclosed media campus and sound stage development planned by Loop Capital Real Estate Partners. 

“Through this $100M investment to develop a new, state-of-the-art media campus in the South Shore neighborhood, INVEST South/West will expand educational opportunities for young people and equip them with the skills they need to thrive and succeed in the film and media industry,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “I am thrilled that this project not only puts community voices front and center, but also enhances Chicago’s presence in the entertainment industry. Ultimately, this development will support our South Side residents and contribute to our prosperous, post-pandemic recovery.”  

Designed by Bauer Latoza Studio, the development will include three film studios, office space, staging areas, and 95 parking spaces. The triangular site will be composed of three areas. The first is the main studio parcel, holding the three mains studio and office structures. Two other smaller parcels include the northwest parking lot and a smaller parcel south of the parking lot that will have a green room, which is a prep area for actors. 

The main site is organized around a central internal portion that acts as open flex space, offering an internal outdoor yard for staging and access for staff. Placed around this central area, three studio buildings each measure 20,000 sf with 40 feet interior clear height space for filming and set building. Located out from the studio structures are attached office spaces. Rising 28 feet, the two-story portions will face the street, blocking views of the taller 52-feet tall studio enclosures. The office portions are faced with lively facades that face the neighborhood. 

All three elevations facing the surrounding streets will be treated with the same architectural expression. The facade is a vibrant pattern of form and color that takes cues from street art and filmstrips. The resulting vibrant linear design is present on all three frontages using metal paneling as the material. 

With approvals coming back in 2021, construction will now begin and is set to complete for a Fall 2024 occupancy.