A Hollywood development will serve as a collaborative center for artists, students, and those in the entertainment industry. It also will be one of the area’s largest Black-owned businesses.
Designed by HKS, with landscape design by Hood Design Studio, CMNTY (pronounced “community”) Culture Campus will consist of 430,000 square feet of office space, studio and production space, pre- and post-production facilities, education space, and performance venues. CMNTY Culture Campus also will feature a 500-seat auditorium that will occupy the street-level corner of the building, as well as a fifth-floor rooftop terrace.
Located on a nearly two-acre site at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue, the CMNTY Culture Campus will be designed to appeal to creatives and the entertainment industry that supports them—including artists, content creators, tech and media companies, agencies and management companies, and other entertainment sectors.
The owner-developer, CMNTY Culture, an entertainment and media company, announced plans for the project in mid-March. Artist and businessman Philip Lawrence and entertainment business manager Thomas St. John founded CMNTY Culture in 2020.
“The entertainment industry is experiencing a time of unparalleled excitement and change, bringing about an opportunity to reimagine the landscape upon which content is created and consumed,” Lawrence, who owns nearby recording studio the Record Plant, says in a statement. “Content creators need a physical epicenter, a place that celebrates their work and the power of community. CMNTY Culture Campus will be a place where creative people will want to hang out with likeminded individuals and experience something special.”
The owners say they want CMNTY Culture Campus to be not only a new Hollywood landmark, but also a vital member of the community where neighbors such as Hollywood High School, located across the street, feel at home.
“We see this place being an immersive playground for students, artists, creators, and innovators of all types while also creating more opportunities in the entertainment industry,” St. John, CMNTY Culture CEO, says in a statement.
Owner and developer: CMNTY Culture
Design architect and architect of record: HKS
MEP engineer: Arup
Structural engineer: Walter P Moore
Related Stories
Libraries | Feb 10, 2019
New library branch in San Diego opens with its community’s learning and working traits in mind
It features larger gathering spaces and more technology than its predecessor.
Libraries | Jan 18, 2019
Chicago’s newest library branch preserves the old and ushers in the new
Its exterior design reflects the neighborhood’s industrial history, while its interior fosters community and shared learning.
Cultural Facilities | Oct 24, 2018
San Antonio approves redevelopment of Alamo Plaza
The San Antonio City Council voted 9-2 in favor of the makeover.
Cultural Facilities | Aug 10, 2018
Moviegoers are looking for an ‘intimate experience’
Comfort and service are keys to attracting repeat customers, says an expert whose firm specializes in cinema design.
Cultural Facilities | Jun 11, 2018
Risorgimento, Buffalo style
Further evidence of the positive impact of the cultural centers on neighborhood development and economic growth can be found in Buffalo, N.Y., where plans for the Italian Cultural Center are moving forward.
Cultural Facilities | Jun 11, 2018
Cultural centers: Community-based venues can be catalysts for downtown renewal
New cultural centers have sparked development in the form of new offices, restaurants, retail, hotels, business incubators, apartments, and arenas.
Cultural Facilities | Jun 2, 2018
Topping Off: Pikes Peak is getting a new Summit Complex
The 26,000-sf facility will be green, resilient, and emphasize the view rather than the architecture.
Libraries | Jun 1, 2018
New library offers a one-stop shop for what society is craving: hands-on learning
Beyond lending books and DVDs, the Elkridge (Md.) branch library loans household tools like ladders, wheelbarrows, and sewing machines.
Museums | Jun 1, 2018
The new Orange County Museum of Art will be Orange County’s largest center for arts and culture
Morphosis designed the building.
| May 24, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: Security and the built environment: Insights from an embassy designer
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), embassy designer Tom Jacobs explores ways that provide the needed protection while keeping intact the representational and inspirational qualities of a design.
