Location Collective and OMA Studio Group

Brief

Location Collective is the leading provider of space to the film and TV industry in London and the south-east. The company’s studio business, OMA Studio Group, encompasses nearly 500,000 sq.ft. of high-specification film studio space, hosting a range of production types from features films and high-end TV, through to commercials and music promos.

The OMA Studio Group portfolio comprises three flagship film studio sites, OMA One Film Studios, OMA X Film Studios and the newly launched OMA V Film Studios, located between Elstree and Leavesden in Hertfordshire.

Location Collective had already employed Algeco UK for its modular office building at OMA X Film Studios and was delighted with the results. So it had no hesitation in hiring Algeco for the new offices at OMA V.

OMA V needed a modular office building in tandem with other buildings on the site, including three sound stages and support space.

The office building needed to not only operate independently of the other buildings, but also enable easy access to them at the same time.

Requirements for the office buildings: HVAC, data and wi-fi connectivity, touch access entry, accessibility elevator, and roll-in, roll-out access on ground floor.

All buildings needed to have high-level security to avoid external people gaining access.

Location Collective was keen to ensure the building was finished and useable to the agreed timeline, in line with the target launch date for the studio facility.

It added that it was important the space was versatile enough to efficiently accommodate any genre or type of production, allowing production companies to personalise the environment to their needs.

Location Collective said its priority is to provide maximum comfort for its occupants, offering air conditioning, an accessible platform lift, ample welfare facilities including a kitchenette on each of the three floors, and a shower.

“The space is designed to feel permanent, with plenty of natural light, enabling any production to utilise it as they see fit,” they added.

Solution

Algeco UK came up with a bespoke solution for Location Collective as opposed to utilising one of its existing modules as the company had specific needs for the building.

Andy Cope was appointed Project Manager and Peter Raybould Regional Construction Manager.

Algeco devised a three-storey structure offering a total 1,080 square metres of space. The building features large, sealed windows with the need for soundproofing a high priority, due to confidential meetings and film editing potentially taking place within the office suites.

Location Collective needed open-plan offices and meeting rooms and was keen on clean aesthetics across all three floors.

This was the second office project Algeco UK has undertaken for Location Collective (the previous one being OMA X Film Studios in Enfield), so it was able to refine its previous design for this one. These changes included the ventilation systems, bigger windows, different colour external panels and a suspended ceiling.

Another challenge for the Algeco team was the fact other buildings were very close by, some only 1.5m away. This made access tricky for equipment, as well as for the installation of cabling and panelling.

Results/outcome

A representative for Location Collective said of the new building: “We are very happy with it – we can’t wait to see it in use by our first production at OMA V!”