New Boston Studio Design

Hi everybody! I've been reading everything I possibly can from this forum over the last month and have learned a TON. I thank you all for the great information and help you provide! With that...let's get to my issue. My name's Mike, I'm from Boston and I am in the process of designing/building a new small commercial studio in the Boston area. My business partner and I think we found the right place, though we haven't officially signed the lease. However, I am trying to get some ideas of how I would set this up. I haven't gotten a chance to get really detailed measurements or SPL measurements yet, but hopefully will soon. The space is on the first floor, nothing above it, in front or behind it. It is on a cement slab with no basement. To the left is a small wings/takeout restaurant, and to the right is a former tanning studio, but currently there is nothing there. The interior of the space is almost exactly 50 ft x 20 ft. The short side is where the main entrance is and also has a front 'display' window taking up most of the front wall. At the back, that is, the other short wall, has another rear exit and in the back left corner is where the bathroom is (see the picture for a better description).\ The ceilings are about 9 ft to the drop ceilings, but currently there is a little attic space above it with one of those little drop down ladders. I haven't gotten to measure up there but it sure looked like it had another 5 ft or so up there, which would be great! I'll have to check on that later though. Besides the bathroom, the room is pretty much wide open with wood floors and mirrors on the wall because it was a dance class/fitness studio. I am looking for the best way to utilize the space. The issue I mainly am having is the location of the bathroom. Because it is at the back, it is difficult to come up with a decent layout without having to walk through the live room to get to the bathroom. This is, as far as I'm concerned, unacceptable. If I'm engineering, or there are spectators in the control room, I can't have them holding up the session to use the bathroom! So I'd definitely consider moving the bathroom to the front of the place. However, I have yet to get a quote from a plumber about this. Assuming it is relatively possible, I'd have no problem spending some money on this if I can get a better floorplan. Obviously, I at least need a Control Room, Live Room and Bathroom. I'd also like an Iso Booth, MAYBE a little reception/office/lounge area, and hopefully some kind of Machine Room. I'd prefer to use airlocks to super heavy doors, space permitting. I'm also not sure what to do about that front window? Depending on the floor plan, if it is a reception/lounge in the front (which would be ideal) then it could stay, anything else I'd have to block it up or something. I haven't gotten to HVAC or electrical or anything yet, for now I'm hoping to figure out the best layout. Does anyone have any better ideas for layouts? I'm attaching 2 floorplans. My sketchup skills are not great but hopefully they give you some idea what I'm thinking. One floorplan shows the space with the current bathroom placement, the other shows where I would probably move the bathroom. Here are also the links to the sketchup files...I tried to upload them here but they are too large. Sketchup link 1 - keep bathroom in place Sketchup link 2 - move bathroom Any ideas would be hugely appreciated!!! Hopefully I didn't forget anything important or required, my apologies if I did. PS - I just noticed in the second sketchup file/ pic I forgot to include the front window. It's still meant to be there in that one I just forgot to draw it in! Thanks Mike

Also, to clarify, I think my budget is about $30,000-$40,000 US, and I realize most of the walls in this sketchup are parallel, these are certainly meant to be very rough.

Hi Mike, and welcome to the forum! :)

The space is on the first floor, nothing above it, in front or behind it. It is on a cement slab with no basement.

"First floor" in the American sense? As in the floor that sits directly on the ground? Or in the British sense, as in the floor about the one that sits on the ground?

The interior of the space is almost exactly 50 ft x 20 ft.

Nice! Plenty of room to play with.

The ceilings are about 9 ft to the drop ceilings, but currently there is a little attic space above it with one of those little drop down ladders. I haven't gotten to measure up there but it sure looked like it had another 5 ft or so up there, which would be great!

That wold be great, if you can get the ceilings out and actually use that space! 9 ft is reasonable, but 14 would be a whole lot better! Photos?

with wood floors

?? :?: ??I though it was a concrete slab? What is between the wood and the slab? Any air spaces in there?

it is difficult to come up with a decent layout without having to walk through the live room to get to the bathroom. This is, as far as I'm concerned, unacceptable.

For sure. Absolutely. But there probably are good layouts that would allow you to have a corridor along one wall, for access between the two ends of the building without going through the actual studio space. It might also be a legal requirement, to have emergency exists accessible through both ends, from all rooms. If this is going to be a commercial studio, then you are subject to a bunch of different laws that don't affect the average home studio, such as ADA for example: wheel-chair accessibility, wide doors and grab bars and rails in the bathroom, ramps and no steps, doors that can be opened from a wheelchair, etc. You might want to look into that.

Obviously, I at least need a Control Room, Live Room and Bathroom. I'd also like an Iso Booth, MAYBE a little reception/office/lounge area, and hopefully some kind of Machine Room.

Should be do-able, I think.

I'd prefer to use airlocks to super heavy doors, space permitting.

You need heavy doors anyway, regardless. Assuming that you need good isolation, of course. If isolation is not important, then you can get away with not-so-heavy doors (but still not light weight).

I'm also not sure what to do about that front window? Depending on the floor plan, if it is a reception/lounge in the front (which would be ideal) then it could stay, anything else I'd have to block it up or something.

It might be possible to incorporate that into the olive room or control room, if you want, with some modifications and careful design.

I haven't gotten to HVAC or electrical or anything yet,

Don't let that hang around for too long before you address it: HVAC can take up a lot of space, especially if you need high levels of isolation.

Also, to clarify, I think my budget is about $30,000-$40,000 US,

That's only about US$ 30 to 40 per square foot. That might be a bit on the low side, depending on how much isolation you need and how good you want the rooms to be, acoustically. Any idea about what level of isolation you need, in terms of decibels? It would help to start form that point, to determine what type of materials and techniques you need for isolation. - Stuart -