(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
Sept. 23, 2019 By Allie Griffin
Developers have released the design plan and renderings for a $400 million production studio in Astoria, backed by the actor Robert De Niro.
Wildflower Studios, a 650,000-square-foot building, will takeover the site of the former Steinway & Sons piano storage facility at 87 19th Ave, located along the Steinway Creek.
The project’s developers — Wildflower Ltd.; Robert De Niro; his son and Douglas Elliman broker Raphael De Niro; and Jane Rosenthal — selected Bjarke Ingels Group to design the modern production hub which will house several open stages, open and private offices, lounges and production-support areas.
(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
The development team called it “a hub for the creation of film, television, augmented reality, and virtual reality.”
Representatives of Wildflower Studios have been meeting with local officials and incorporating feedback into the proposal for months. Wildflower will provide parking, public water access, and land conservation areas for the neighborhood to enjoy.
(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
The building plans will undergo public review–and go before the City Council– since the development team seeks height amendments. They aim to break ground next year.
“This studio is a testament to the strength and future of the New York film and television production industry,” Robert De Niro said in a statement. “Completion of this project ensures that future generations of producers, directors, writers, and storytellers will play a vital role in filmed entertainment in New York for years to come.”
(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
The state-of-the-art facility is projected to create more than 1,000 daily union jobs.
“We view this project as an opportunity to transform not just how film and media are produced now and going forward, but also as an opportunity to transform how a content production facility engages its surrounding community and the world at large,” added Adam Gordon, managing partner at Wildflower Ltd.
(Bjarke Ingels Group/ Wildflower Ltd.)
