Electric Owl Studios Grand Opening Brings Film Production to New Heights in DeKalb County
Super heroes and A-list actors will be going green at Electric Owl Studios, but it won’t be special effects. Film studio executives, county officials and others cut the ribbon on the world’s first LEED Gold certified ground-up studio campus on June 8, 2023.
Located at 3963 Redan Road just southeast of Avondale Estates near the Indian Creek MARTA Station (which is presently undergoing a $10 million facelift), the $60 million Electric Owl Studios spans 312,000 square feet and is set to employ more than 2,000 people.
By combining the magic of filmmaking with cutting-edge green technologies, this state-of-the-art facility positions itself as “the greenest film studio on earth.” (“We give a hoot,” is the studio’s motto.)
With the entertainment industry’s annual spending in Georgia topping $4 billion, DeKalb is one of the counties with the most production studios in the state.
“DeKalb County is proud to welcome Electric Owl Studios to our home,” said Michael Thurmond, CEO of DeKalb County. “As a leader in Georgia’s film infrastructure, we’re overjoyed to see new jobs and investment being created in our community and our county’s film and television production industry continuing to boom.”
Electric Owl is a purpose-built film and television studio with six purpose-built sound stages and ample space to accommodate feature films and large-scale television series simultaneously.
The sustainable features are state-of-the-art. Electric Owl claims the title of the world’s first ground-up LEED Gold certified studio campus. The studio aims to minimize its environmental footprint throughout the production process with LED lighting, 48 electric vehicle charging stations, solar panels, living walls, high-efficiency HVAC systems, carbon-negative concrete, a composting and recycling program, solar golf carts, water refill stations, bike racks, bikes and more. The location also has a new Home Depot flatbed delivery center.
“Our goal is to be an easily accessible, turn-key film & TV studio offering superior facilities, services, and a friendly, reliable experience for our production clients,” said Co-founder, Dan Rosenfelt in a press release. “Our focus on environmental stewardship aims to reduce the impact the production process can have on our planet by leading innovation in every aspect of filming including design, construction, materials, and overall day to day operations. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCU, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, Netflix, Apple, Amazon, Skydance, Legendary, etc., and partnering with them in their production sustainability efforts.”
Michael Hahn, Co-founder and CEO of Capstone South Properties, is the developer and this is his third studio project. Hahn added, “In 2013, when I first started building film studios in the state, I would have never believed that the film industry would grow in Georgia the way that it has – and give back to the state in terms of jobs, infrastructure investment, and both property and income taxes. Film Studio infrastructure has been a great economic development tool for the State of Georgia and the localities in which they are built. Electric Owl Studios will breathe a new life into the neighborhood around the Indian Creek MARTA station in DeKalb County, an area that had been seeking economic investment for years.”
As Electric Owl opens its doors, Decide DeKalb celebrates the county’s success in attracting investments like this one, fostering creativity and paving the way for a brighter future in terms of jobs for people in DeKalb and sustainability.
Looking to make a mark in Georgia’s flourishing entertainment industry? Reach out to the Shelbia Jackson, Director of the DeKalb Entertainment Commission.