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ast End Studios is rapidly expanding its presence in Los Angeles, bucking the trend of caution among developers due to uncertainty surrounding soundstage demand. The company's Glendale unit has pushed for aggressive growth, despite an entertainment industry slump following worker strikes. East End Capital now oversees 2.7 million square feet of studios across 38 soundstages, with more projects in development.
The company's first ground-up studio campus, a 97,000-square-foot facility in Glendale, opened in June after three years of construction. Two more campuses are underway in Boyle Heights and Queens, New York, while a massive 611,000-square-foot campus is planned between Burbank and North Hollywood. The company is also developing the $1 billion ADLA Campus in Los Angeles' Arts District.
East End's studios feature cutting-edge amenities such as column-free soundstages, high clearance heights, LED wall technology, and soundproofing, designed to meet modern production needs. In contrast, some existing soundstage providers offer converted warehouses. Shep Wainwright, managing partner at East End Capital, notes that many L.A. soundstages are outdated and not purpose-built for today's workflow.
Despite concerns over productions leaving the state due to tax incentives, East End Studios remains confident in demand for soundstages, particularly for TV series. Television production is seen as a driving force behind occupancy rates in Los Angeles. The company's Glendale campus has already attracted high-profile clients such as Apple and Amazon.com.
Experts agree that expanding and modernizing studio space in Los Angeles is crucial to maintaining the city's competitive edge against "runaway productions." While inflation and construction costs have made financing more difficult, East End remains optimistic, expecting market stabilization by next year. The company's strategic location within Hollywood's 30-mile zone further bolsters its appeal, solidifying Los Angeles as the world's largest studio market.
