By Kory Loucks
Journal Inquirer
May 5, 2010

SOUTH WINDSOR — Connecticut Studios LLC has hired veteran television and film industry executive Mark Miller as president of studio and digital media operations for its new full service state-of-the-art motion picture and television studio, production, and post-production facility.

Miller is a 35-year veteran of the television and film industry who has managed production sound stages and engineered and designed several major post-production companies, the company said Tuesday.

He was co-founder and co-president of Eden FX — a leading provider of visual effects for episodic television, feature film, and commercials.

“We are thrilled to have Mark Miller as a member of the Connecticut Studios senior management team,” said Ralph Palumbo, chief financial officer of Connecticut Studios LLC. “Mark is a high-caliber senior executive who has more than 35 years of West Coast television and film industry experience designing and managing highly successful post-production companies.”

Miller previously served as executive vice president and managing director of the Santa Monica-based Digital Magic Co. which provided visual effects for such shows as “Star Trek,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “X-Files,” and several feature films such as “Armageddon.”

“We brought Mark onboard several months ago and he has been steadily transitioning into his full-time role while working on relocating to the South Windsor area,” Palumbo said.

Earlier in his career Miller held positions as vice president of engineering for several post-production facilities and served as engineering, video control, and technical director for the CBS Television Network, working on many award-winning shows. He also served as a location technical director for many sporting events.

He received two Emmys for his work on the Star Trek “Enterprise” series.

“Connecticut Studios is going to quickly become a major player in the film and television production industry,” Miller said. “I am eager to bring my Hollywood experience to the East Coast and to be able to play a leadership role from the beginning in designing and managing Connecticut Studios facilities and operations. We’re building something unique and special in South Windsor. It’s going to exciting to watch it grow and succeed.”

Connecticut Studios LLC is in the process of reviewing bids and selecting construction subcontractors and expects to break ground this year. The full-service, state-of-the-art motion picture studio and production facility will be located at the intersection of Interstate 291 and Route 5.

Copyright © 2010 - Journal Inquirer

CONNECTICUT STUDIOS ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BREAK GROUND IN SOUTH WINDSOR
$71 million dollar motion picture and television production facility to bring jobs, new industry to state

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT, MARCH 26, 2010 —Connecticut Studios LLC today announced plans to break ground this spring on construction of its $71 million dollar state-of-the-art motion picture and television studio, production and post-production facility in South Windsor, CT.

On Tuesday, the project received unanimous approval from the South Windsor Planning and Zoning Commission clearing the way for construction to begin on the project located in the I-291 Gateway Zone at the intersection with Route 5. A groundbreaking ceremony is expected to take place in late May or early June with construction beginning shortly thereafter.

“We invested more the $2 million during the planning and approval phase to ensure that we had a well planned and responsible project that was consistent with town and state goals for real estate and economic development. We’ve met those criteria and are now preparing to break ground this spring.” said Ralph Palumbo, chief financial officer/member, Connecticut Studios LLC. “We anticipate completing Phase I of the construction process and to begin loading our first productions into the facility by the end of the year.”

Construction of Connecticut Studios is expected to create 400-500 construction-related jobs generating approximately $6 million in new employment and sales tax revenues for the state. Once fully operational, Connecticut Studios will support approximately1650 production-related union jobs per year paying an average salary of $68,200 and generating approximately $112.5 million in additional Connecticut payroll. In addition, 54 full time studio facility jobs paying an average salary of $37,500 and generating approximately $2.4 million in payroll are anticipated.

“This project is creating good jobs and long-term economic benefits for both the town and for the state,” said Matthew B. Galligan, town manager, Town of South Windsor. “We’re proud that South Windsor will be the epicenter of a new and vibrant growth industry here in Connecticut.”

Planned facilities for Connecticut Studios include:
·    Eight sound stages totaling approximately 160,000 square feet of space
·    A 30,000 square-foot digital media/post-production center
·    Approximately 104,000 square feet of support space and administrative offices
·    Approximately 75,000 square feet of mill and storage facilities

In addition, Connecticut Studios will provide sufficient space for location shooting and includes room for expansion as the business grows. The facility will utilize renewable energy sources for power.

“We are confident that South Windsor is the right place for us to build a successful world class production and post production facility,” said Hal Katersky, Connecticut Studios LLC. “The town and the state have demonstrated that they believe in the economic benefits Connecticut Studios will bring to the state and have created an opportunity for Connecticut to become a major east coast hub for film and television production. In addition, Connecticut offers a highly skilled workforce to support the studio.”

Construction management for Connecticut Studios is being provided by dck north America. Thomas Gribbin, A.I.A., LEED AP, of Chester, CT-based Noyes Vogt Architects is the project’s lead architect and engineering services are being provided by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc and Gaskell Associates.

dck north america soliciting bids for construction of Connecticut Studios

dck north america is soliciting bids for construction of four studio buildings, a mill building, and related site improvements for the project known as Connecticut Studios in South Windsor, Connecticut.

All five buildings shall be pre-engineered metal building systems consisting of steel columns, beams, long-span joists, metal decking, and prefinished galvanized steel wall panels supported by steel purlins.  The building foundations consist of shallow concrete footings, walls, and piers.  A built-up membrane roof system shall be provided over each of the four studio buildings and a standing seam metal roof shall be provided over the mill building.  Each studio building houses two 20,000 square foot sound stages and an additional 25,000 square feet of adjoined two-story office space.

Interior construction of the office space includes metals studs and drywall, hollow metal and wood doors with hollow metal frames, suspended acoustic tile, carpet, vinyl tile and ceramic tile flooring.  The soundstages include a hanging steel support grid and full coverage of the soundstage walls and ceilings by sound insulation blankets.

The mill building consists of 75,000 square feet of warehouse type space on the ground level and an additional 30,000 square foot mezzanine for future fit out to a post-production facility.  Each of the five buildings shall receive a two-story hydraulic elevator.  Masonry walls, steel stairs, railings, upward acting sectional doors, aluminum windows and storefronts are all elements of work included in the bid documents.  All related sitework, asphalt paving, landscaping, plumbing, mechanical, fire protection, and electrical work is also included in this request for bid.

All bidders are to note that the project shall be governed by a Project Labor Agreement that each bidder shall be required to enter into as a condition of being awarded work on the project.  The PLA and Subcontract Boilerplate to be used on the project shall be available for download alongside the bid documents.  Bid documents shall be available for download beginning March 31st at www.bidclerk.com  under Project ID 935644, http://dodge.construction.com/, or at ftp://ftp.dickcorp.com/CTstudiosR by login as username: ctstudiosr and password: CTstudiosr.

All interested bidders are asked to return the invitation to bid form that is posted to the ftp site well in advance of submitting bids on April 15th.

For additional information please contact dck north america │1900 State Route 51, Suite 200 Large, PA 15025 │ p. (412) 384-1024 │ f. (412) 384-1150