How I Keep a Team Studio Build on Budget

Sports Team Studios  |  David Frangioni

Every studio I have built, from Aerosmith’s rooms to studios for Ozzy Osbourne, taught me the same lesson: the money is saved or lost in the plan, long before anyone picks up a tool.

I Plan the Company and the Facility Together

The most expensive mistake I see is building rooms before anyone knows who will work in them or what they will make. I start with the content slate and the staffing, then design the rooms around them. That way nothing gets built twice.

I Put the Money Where It Can’t Be Fixed Later

Isolation, HVAC noise and power are hard to change once walls are closed. Gear can be upgraded any time. So I protect the structure first and match equipment to what the team will actually produce, not to a catalog.

I Phase It

A team does not need every room on day one. I specify the infrastructure for the full plan, then finish the rooms that produce the most content first. Later phases plug in without rework.

I Stay the One Accountable Lead

When design, integration, acoustics and training sit with one person, problems get solved in the plan instead of turning into change orders between vendors. That is how a team gets the highest quality at the most cost-effective number.

For the six decisions that set a team studio budget, see What Drives the Cost of a Sports Team Content Studio at Frangioni Media. The full series is on my Sports Team Studios page.