Last year, the century-old Culver Studios had announced its plan to expand its space, which would either demolish, renovate, or repurpose the entertainment studios’ older structures. The changes, designed by Gensler, would feature over 400,000 square feet of construction, including new offices, stages, and more efficient parking structures. 

Less than a month afterward, Amazon officially released details for the company’s plan to move its media streaming facilities from Santa Monica to Culver City. The company’s subdivisions, which include Amazon Studios, IMDB, Amazon Video, and World Wide Advertising, were all heading over to Culver Studios by the end of the year. 

Photo by Termer / CC BY-SA

The streaming division, which has over 700 employees, agreed to lease over 280,000 square feet of the Culver Studios Mansion and Bungalows as part of its move. 

With all of this new construction and a surge of professionals making its way into the area, how will Culver City be affected? The studio lot is located near Downtown Culver, which already experiences a heavy rate of traffic congestion. While many believe that Amazon’s arrival means more a higher cost of living, the media giant claims that it will keep its expansion within Culver Studios, offer employment opportunities, and even streamline traffic.

Per Amazon’s press release, the company hopes that its relocation will provide new opportunities for employment in its technical, creative, publicity, and legal departments. The company had outgrown its space in Santa Monica, and Culver Studios not only made room for Amazon’s workforce, it also offered an environment that would support its creation of TV and film content.

Amazon has now taken on an active role in the expansion of Culver Studios with its Innovation Plan, which will pave the way for its upgraded operational facilities and an eco-friendly campus. The local investment company Hackman Capital Partners has been tapped to develop the expansion.

While the company wants to transform its new headquarters into an interactive place for its employees, it also aims at minimizing impacts on the city by seamlessly incorporating its infrastructure and parking lots. The studio plans on moving all of its parking and trucks on-site, while creating separate entrances for tenant and visitor vehicles. 

Adjacent to the campus is another Hackman Capital Partners’ project, which will renovate the upcoming Culver Steps development. The company began construction around the same time Amazon migrated over to its new home last year. The walkable, mixed-use project will add a four-story structure featuring approximately 75,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail, and a 35,000-square-foot plaza for the public. According to Urbanize, a new construction crane has already set up shop on Washington Boulevard. 

The Culver Steps development is expected to finish in 2019. The mixed-use hub will be ready by the time Amazon’s Innovation Plan completes in 2020.