Developer builds $450 million stacked studio in Hollywood as local production slips

# What the project is Echelon Studios Hollywood is a $450 million, vertically stacked studio being built on the former Sears site on Santa Monica Boulevard west of the Hollywood Freeway. Developer David Simon is converting the 5-acre footprint into a studio that, by design, packs what would typically be spread across a 10-acre lot into a single building.

# Design and features

# Timing and personnel Construction was reported to be far along as of late September 2026, with an opening targeted for early next year. Jamie Crosbie will head studio operations. Simon began the project about five years earlier when demand for soundstages appeared to be rising amid big streamer spending.

# Industry context: demand is down The project arrives during a notable downturn for local production. FilmLA data cited in the reporting shows feature film shoots were down 20% in the second quarter year-over-year, while television production declined 30% over the same period. Independent studio owners across Los Angeles have been struggling as a result.

# Why the developer is moving forward Simon's rationale is a belief that a steady volume of shows and movies will continue to be made in Los Angeles and that a well-designed, full-service studio will attract productions that otherwise might leave the region. He also expects expanded film incentives to help lure work back. The project reflects a strategic bet: provide full facilities in a compact footprint and add amenities — especially the rooftop bungalows — to make L.A. an attractive production home despite higher costs.

Instead of sprawling outdoor stages and low-rise bungalows across many acres, Echelon stacks multiple functions vertically. That approach aims to deliver the programmatic elements of a classic studio — stages, mills, base camp and private work/living spaces — on constrained urban land.

# Practical implications for productions Producers looking for consolidated facilities close to Hollywood infrastructure could find Echelon useful. It offers the conveniences of an integrated lot while reducing the land footprint. The rooftop bungalows provide on-site private spaces that historically have been in high demand for showrunners, lead talent and key production staff.

# Uncertainties to watch

# Bottom line Echelon Studios is a large financial bet that a compact, amenity-rich studio can attract productions back to Hollywood. It brings full studio infrastructure to a tight urban site and plans to open in the near term, even as film and TV activity in L.A. remains below recent highs.