Te Pūtahi, Auckland Film Studios
The Auckland Film Studios site was expanded to include two new world-class sound stages, each covering an impressive 2000m2. The expansion will accommodate the increasing demand for film production studio space in New Zealand.
The building, gifted the māori name Te Pūtahi, was developed by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and co-funded by the Government’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund and Auckland Council.
Located adjacent to Auckland’s western rail line, the acoustic design of the sound stages was an important consideration during the design process. The project focused on three key design principals: flexibility of use, acoustic performance and vibration isolation.
It was completed within 22 months and achieved Green Star sustainability benchmarks, marking a first for a building of this kind in New Zealand.
CLIENT
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
LOCATION
Auckland, NZ
COMPLETED
2022
Awards
2024 NZ Commercial Project Awards - Industrial, Gold Award
2023 Property Council NZ - Industrial Property, Excellence Award
2023 New Zealand Building People Awards - Collaboration Category Award
Our Scope
Marshall Day Acoustics provided full acoustic design services for the project. Due to the need for a quiet environment for filming and the building’s location, the construction elements used were crucial in order to control vibration and noise transfer to the studios. MDA developed solutions to ensure the building provides a high level of sound insulation. This included using double-layer constructions, installing a high-performance scenery door, and vibration isolation for the slab of one of the studios.
CHALLENGES
Due to a tight schedule, developing a simple and robust acoustic concept for the building envelope was critical to ensure a high level of sound insulation and avoid construction errors. The acoustic requirements and design were communicated to the project team, and with a collaborative approach, these were correctly interpreted.
With the building located in an industrial zone and near the rail line, innovative construction solutions were required to minimise sound transfer to the studios. MDA prepared an auralisation of train pass-bys in The Listening Room, which assisted the design team and client to understand the effects of the building materials in the audibility of trains in the studios.
Outcomes
Despite the studios’ noisy surroundings, the acoustic design resulted in low background noise within the studios (lower than NC 20). The project was delivered within 22 months, which met the tight schedule and budget.
MDA’s technical expertise in film studio design and low background noise spaces allowed for bespoke solutions to achieve an excellent outcome for the project. The use of The Listening Room proved to be a fantastic tool to communicate and assist the client in building materials selection and potential cost implications.
PROJECT TEAM
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