New Zealand's Lane Street Studios set to launch expansion

Lane Street Studios (LSS) in Wellington, New Zealand is preparing to open its extended facility at the end of September, 2022. 

The studios' production building (Totara) opened for use in June earlier this year and the soundstages will be completed at the end of this month. 

Lane Street Studios  is a purpose-built facility including two soundstages, two large interior studios and comprehensive multi-purpose production offices. LSS modern spaces, in a 10-acre rural setting which is surrounded by diverse shooting locations.

Melissa Conway, chief strategic officer, Lane Street Studios, told KFTV they are currently in conversation with a number of international productions, and are open for business. 

“Our latest development is that we’re putting the final touches in place for our first booking“, said Conway. “This includes planting some stunning natives in our surrounding land for crew and cast to enjoy and all office spaces have been fully ergonomically-furnished. The construction on our purpose-built sound stages is now complete with final infrastructure commissioning is underway.

“Finally, we are working with our local Māori iwi (indigenous regional tribe) to bless our studios for opening.“

The complex offers a 10-acre / 4-hectare private site with a total of 67,800 sq. ft. / 6,300 sqm of production, office and workshop spaces including hair & make-up facilities.

There are two international-level, purpose-built sound stages that have been designed to deliver advanced technical acoustic performance and high-speed digital data transfer:

Miro Stage:
Area: 24,025 sqft / 2,232 sqm. Length: 196 ft / 60 m. Width: 125 ft / 38 m. Height: 56 ft / 17 m. Grid: 39 ft / 12 m
Miro is equipped with house lighting, power outlets and compressed air reticulation. There is an air handling system for fresh air and extraction, a grid of catwalks for set and lighting rigs, plus a grid level dimmer room with a lift. A 36 sqm / 387 sqft motion-controlled platform is fitted in the M Stage floor. 

Kauri Stage:
Area: 24,111 sqft / 2,240 sqm. Length: 196 ft / 60 m. Width: 125 ft / 38 m. Height: 56 ft / 17 m. Grid: 39 ft / 12 m
Kauri is equipped with house lighting, power outlets and compressed air reticulation. There is an air handling system for fresh air and extraction, a grid of catwalks for set and lighting rigs, plus access to the M Stage dimmer room and lift.

(Miro Stage, Lane Street Studios)

The studio is located in Wellington’s Upper Hutt, notable for its own micro-climate, and avoids flight paths. The complex also has a Theatrette, which hosts 25 seats - 18 of which are cinema seats - as well as accessible seating. It features a Christie CP4415 Laser Projector with a QSC Q-SYS Audio system.

As of early November, Lane Street Studios will also have a virtual 360-degree tour of the site. The full facility opens end of September.