What are you looking for?
Wheel and deal on the Exchange »
View larger photo
Sometime next spring, Engine + Ladder Co. No. 2 firehouse will begin its next life as 585 Studio. The 1910 building in the heart of downtown Detroit, at St Antoine and Larned streets, is set to receive a $1 million plus refurbishing. It will re-emerge as an audio and video recording studio with a twist.
Studio organizers declined to give construction cost estimates. But a Detroit architect, who has done similar projects downtown but asked to remain anonymous, said $150 per square foot, or $1.35 million, would be a reasonable estimate for the building renovations. Equipment will tack on another $1.1 million, said Kevin Johnson, the studio's co-creative director.
Roxanne Daniels Ford, wife of Walter Buhl Ford III, owns the building and will fund the studio project. Johnson and Al Sutton will handle studio operations through 585 Music (music production, publishing and a record label) and 585 Media (video production, public relations, graphics and Web design, and other creative support services) — 585 Music and 585 Media are divisions of 585 Studio.
Sutton is Kid Rock’s favorite producer-engineer and founder of Royal Oak-based Rustbelt Studios. He’s credited on all five of Kid Rock’s albums since 1998. Johnson is a freelance broadcast producer and owner of Detroit-based Joliet Films Inc.
“It’s the vision of our benefactor (Ford) to create an arts hub. Her idea is to use the space as a creative incubator,” Sutton said. “We’re hoping to be a giant creativity amplifier for downtown. The vibe is really good here — creative people like being in a city.”
The project team hopes to start construction within 60 days and have the studio in operation by spring 2009. The construction team includes Ferndale-based designer Silveri Architects and Jonna Construction Co. of Southfield. Glenn Brown, an East Lansing-based acoustic consultant, will design the recording studios.
Grant funding and historic tax credits will make up part of the project’s financial package, Sutton said. At press time, construction contracts were under negotiation.
Visitors will enter the 9,000-square-foot building from Larned Street. Two original wrought iron spiral staircases will carry traffic from the first floor to two upper levels. White glazed bricks that line the interior will remain.
A central gallery and lounge may host poetry slams, music and other live events. It’s equipped with a pantry for food and beverage service. The studio will boast two dual-purpose media suites for audio and video recording, editing and post-production, another lounge and offices. The third floor may also be used for live music events.
The sustainable green roof with its tiny but functional tower will hold two large decks. The environmental features will be part of a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certification being sought for the building.
The studio will be a full-service production facility with special features such as isolation booths for recording and a pair of high-definition video editing booths with Dolby Surround Sound.
Target markets include corporate and political work from downtown, suburban ad agencies, new feature films being shot in Detroit, and work from independent and documentary filmmakers.
Johnson and Sutton declined to provide revenue estimates. Hourly charges at metro Detroit recording studios range from $35 to $85 per hour, according to Rob Martens, owner of Solid Sound Studio in Ann Arbor. Studios may average 40 to 60 hours per week in bookings, he added.
The fledgling company plans to offer artist-management and support services, in addition to audio and video services. Real time video will allow off-site clients to see sessions on the Web. Webcasts will include “meet the artist” sessions. The partners want the new media company to encompass every aspect of artists’ and producers’ needs.
“We’ll be a full-on production company based in the digital domain for our artists. People will be able to buy licensed music for downloads right on our Web site. We’ll also offer our agency clients a way to license our music for their use,” Johnson said.
It’s going to be a big first year for the company. The partners will have to educate clients and the public about what they’re doing.
“We’re not going to do it all ourselves. We’re interviewing now to start with the right core people, and we’ll add to them as we need staff,” Sutton said. They’ll use a mix of freelance and staff creatives, with about six on staff to begin with, including Johnson and Sutton.
Does Detroit need another recording studio?
Yes, despite the dramatic shrinking of the commercial recording industry worldwide, said Dave Feeny, founder of Tempermill Studios, a professional recording studio in Ferndale.
“There’s always more room for more studios because there are so many musical styles (i.e. gospel, jazz, hip hop, rock, blues, audio books),” Feeny said via e-mail. “I’m guessing there are probably about 10 professional commercial recording studios in the metro area and hundreds of very high-quality private home studios.”
585 Media will provide pro-bono media services to Emzy’s Way Foundation, acting as an accelerator for talented young people from the inner city. The company will partner with Detroit Public Schools to identify student candidates, giving them access to audio and video production and editing to create professionally finished projects, Johnson said.
If all goes as planned, the empty lot directly across from the firehouse, also owned by Ford, is available for expansion.
Ideally, Johnson and Sutton hope 585 Studio will have its own Sirius Satellite Radio channel.
“Lots of national underground touring acts don’t even come to Detroit because they have no radio support. It’s hurt our music scene and motivation among local musicians,” Sutton said.
Comments: