[haddad’s • film production studio]

What began as a Frito-Lay manufacturing facility and later became a Harley-Davidson showroom has been thoughtfully transformed into a dynamic 22,000-square-foot film production hub. The renovation reimagines the existing building as a flexible workplace supporting the diverse needs of film production, accommodating producer suites, accounting offices, costume and wardrobe facilities, an art studio, casting areas, storage, and collaborative zones.

The project not only reallocates space but revitalizes the building’s performance and accessibility. Code upgrades, accessibility improvements, and extensive repairs address years of wear, ensuring the building serves its new role safely and sustainably.

Daylight becomes a key design element, especially within communal areas and the art studio. North-facing light provides consistent, diffuse illumination—minimizing glare and shadow while offering the true color rendering essential to artistic work. A distinctive zig-zag wall defines one edge of the studio, maximizing display surface and creating intimate pockets for critique, collaboration, and creation.

An open stair anchors the interior experience, connecting human-centered creative spaces below with the accounting offices on the mezzanine above. The stair extends upward as a bold yellow “tunnel,” landing within an open office environment and leading directly to a shared kitchenette. Beyond, private offices and secure storage areas support focused work and organization.

Strategic demolition of small, intervening rooms enhances openness, improves circulation, and establishes clear egress routes. Along the building perimeter, flexible office pods define departmental zones while remaining adaptable to the constantly changing composition of film production teams. Integrated data columns eliminate the need for loose cables, ensuring both safety and flexibility throughout the open workspace.

Furniture is treated as architectural infrastructure, shaping social and collaborative experiences. An orange communal table frames the kitchen, a yellow bench activates the stair base, and a blue serpentine bar outside the art studio encourages informal interaction and spontaneous dialogue between departments.

The Costume and Wardrobe department is located in the former motorcycle service bay—an ideal location benefiting from existing exhaust systems, mezzanine storage access, and adaptable overhead power reels. A crisp, white interior from floor to ceiling offers a neutral canvas that supports creativity and clarity of craft.

Color plays a meaningful narrative role throughout the project—part homage to the site’s Harley-Davidson legacy and part playful wayfinding strategy—creating a workplace that is not only efficient and functional but memorable, intuitive, and full of character.