Having browsed this list, I'm confident that there are more than a few people who can help me work through the process of designing and building a personal studio. First, let me clarify that I'm not a builder, contractor, or architect. However, I'm looking to engage those of you (for fun and/or profit) in those disciplines with the following problem statement.
The studio will be "high-end" with at least one large, beautiful tracking/performance room (perhaps 25'x30'x40' or larger), one full-sized control/mix room (which can double as video editing room), iso booths for drums, guitar amp, and vocals, and perhaps a small beautiful tracking room. There will be a dedicated machine room, a single bathroom with sink but no shower or bath (it's a detached private studio so I don't need separate mens/women's rooms). If there's a damn good reason to insert another room into the design, that's OK, but please explain.
Looking for a minimum footprint of 2000 sq ft, likely 2500 sq ft, and am open to designs that run up to perhaps 3500 sq ft. Am open to mixed-level design, i.e., two levels adjacent to large tracking room, one looking down from above, one looking across at ground level. Plus and minus of such a design: need more space for stairs, but don't need as large a footprint on the ground.
The space for the studio is zoned Office and Industrial, so I don't expect to have the kind of building problems that others have reported on this list. It's also in a relatively rural location so I don't need to soundproof as if neighbors are 6' away. OTOH, I am in the flightpath of both RDU and Shearon Harris Nuclear Facility which has blackhawk helicopters patroling over my property as they sweep some security perimeter, so I want to keep that noise to a minimum. (I'm about 7 miles from the main tower.)
I've seen studio construction cost estimates ranging from $150 to $450/sq ft for fully finished (meaning HVAC, power, acoustic treatments, etc., but not furnished) studios and/or home theaters. Would be interested to any and all pointers to studio projects that (1) might look like this, (2) might price like this.
Since I'm not going to do it myself, a pointer to a $75/sq ft studio that's beautiful but cannot be built by anybody else for less than $500/sq ft are not that helpful. I'm trying to get a fix on cost within +/- $200K because the budget for this studio determines both the audio toy budget as well as the budgets of other hobbies/interests.
If you are interested in working on such a project in the Triangle area, please send me a PM. No guarantees, but it never hurts to at least talk. If you want to post a design and get the conversation going, that's great!
Personal studio in North Carolina--design, builders needed
Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 5599.
heres a facility sized studio i drew up when i first became a member of the forum maybe this will help get your creative ideas flowing.
Wes Lachot is a fairly well-known studio designer who, IIRC, lives in the Carolinas....
Great suggestion! I'll call him tmw.Wes Lachot is a fairly well-known studio designer who, IIRC, lives in the Carolinas....