frank gehry has designed a pair of office buildings for warner bros., which will allow the entertainment company to expand its existing headquarters in burbank, california. the complex will consist of a seven-story building of approximately 355,000 square feet and a nine-story building of approximately 445,000 square feet. groundbreaking is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2019, with construction expected to be complete by 2023 — coinciding with warner bros.’s 100th anniversary. in recognition of this landmark, the development’s design and construction phases will be called the ‘second century project’.

frank gehry warner bros
all images by sora, courtesy of gehry partners, LLP

 

 

the news was first announced by the LA times, who claim that the project is one of burbank’s largest and most complex real estate transactions ever, with an estimated combined value of more than $1 billion. the project will be developed by worthe real estate group and its partner stockbridge real estate fund, with warner bros. becoming the long-term and sole tenant of the two buildings. it is hoped that the new structures, along with the expanded campus, will facilitate increased interaction and collaboration among staff.

frank gehry warner bros
the project is scheduled to complete by 2023

 

 

‘once upon a time, hollywood studios had an important architectural presence in the city — they were like monuments to the movie-making process. with this project, I was trying to recapture that feeling of old hollywood splendor,’ explains frank gehry. ‘we wanted to create a 21st century version that would have a strong and unique identity for jeff worthe and for warner bros. in the center of burbank. we created large open floorplates with the single goal of creating the highest quality office space. from the freeway, the buildings are composed as one long sculptural glass façade that creates a single identity like icebergs floating along the freeway. on the studio side, the metal punched façade is terraced to relate to the scale and character of the existing studio buildings.’

 

 

project info:

 

architect: gehry partners, LLP
name: second century project
developer: worthe real estate group and stockbridge real estate fund
location: burbank, CA, USA
status: set to break ground in fall 2019, completion slated for 2023