Project Overview

  • Project Name: Cinespace Chicago
  • Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Sector: Film / Television / Entertainment Infrastructure
  • Delivery Type: Design & Construction
  • Original Opening: 2011
  • Construction Duration: ???
  • Architect: ???

Project Scope

The work delivered at Cinespace Chicago focused on expanding and enhancing a world-class production environment through the development of new sound stages, support facilities, and fully integrated campus infrastructure.

  • 628,000 square feet of sound stage space across a 70+ acre footprint
  • 56 acres and 1.4 million square feet of production and support space
  • 34+ purpose-built sound stages
  • 17 production office spaces
  • 10 wardrobe departments
  • Dedicated carpentry, set design, and special effects areas
  • On-site industry service providers such as Cinelease and Keslow Camera
  • New 10-acre satellite campus

The result is a scalable, secure, and highly efficient studio ecosystem that continues to attract major productions and reinforce Cinespace’s position as a global leader in film and television production.

Cinespace Studios Chicago

Cinespace Chicago is the largest TV and film studio provider in the Midwest, featuring over 628,000 square feet of sound stage space across a 70+ acre footprint. Since opening in 2011, the studio has contributed to the creation of more than 16,000 jobs in the Chicago area, reinforcing its importance as both an economic engine and a creative hub.

As the largest privately owned film studio operator in the world and the leading studio owner in both Chicago and Toronto, Cinespace plays a critical role in North America’s film and television production ecosystem. Its proprietary design approach and integrated service delivery model ensure productions benefit from purpose-built infrastructure, seamless logistics, and high-performance environments that translate directly to on-screen quality.

Cinespace Campus

The campus operated as a fully integrated production ecosystem, spanning approximately 56 acres and 1.4 million square feet of production and support space. This includes:

  • 34+ purpose-built sound stages
  • 17 production office spaces
  • 10 wardrobe departments
  • Dedicated carpentry, set design, and special effects areas
  • On-site industry service providers such as Cinelease and Keslow Camera

The campus was designed as a gated, self-contained environment, providing productions with enhanced security, operational control, and ease of coordination. This infrastructure, combined with Chicago’s favorable tax incentives and enterprise zone, positions Cinespace as one of the most efficient and attractive filming locations in North America.

Cinespace Campus Expansion

As part of the continued growth of Cinespace Chicago, a new 10-acre satellite campus was developed approximately 0.7 miles from the main site. This expansion added approximately 240,000 square feet of new production space, including 70,000 square feet of sound stages with flexible configurations (20,000–30,000 sq. ft. stages).

This expansion was designed to extend the operational capacity of the main campus while maintaining the same level of quality, flexibility, and production efficiency. The development included:

  • Multiple large-format sound stages
  • Full-service support facilities, including carpentry shops, wardrobe areas, and set production spaces
  • Dedicated special effects (SPFX) infrastructure
  • Two new production office suites
  • Gated access and the ability to incorporate customizable street façades for filming

Cinespace Chicago is a family-owned and operated studio business with over 30 years of industry leadership and a reputation as one of the most recognized and trusted production hubs globally. Known for its strong brand recognition and consistent delivery of high-quality production environments, Cinespace has built an unmatched track record of long-term tenant retention and award-winning productions.