LOS ANGELES—Creative companies are committed to the Burbank market. This month alone, Hulu expanded its Burbank office lease to 20, 700 square feet, a lease value of $4.4 million; Pixelogic Media Partners signed a 10-year lease valued at $7.5 million; and now, in the biggest office play, Nickelodeon has expanded its Burbank office by 110,000 square feet with a new renovation. With more than 200,000 square feet, the network's West Coast facility has a new 110,000-square-foot, five-story, state-of-the-art animation building; an expansive, redesigned courtyard; and a newly renovated 72,000-square-foot studio, and LEED certification. McCormick Construction constructed the expanded space. To find out about the vision for the expansion and what it is seeing in the Burbank market, we sat down with Michael McCormick, president of the company, for an exclusive interview.

GlobeSt.com: What was your vision for this project?

Michael McCormick: McCormick's vision for the Nickelodeon project was a fast track delivery. The schedule of completion was absolutely critical for Viacom in order to move its animation team into the new space in time for Nickelodeon's 25th anniversary celebration. During preconstruction, McCormick's goal was to be an integral part of the design process, including providing value-engineering input that did not comprise the design intent of the project.

GlobeSt.com: Have you seen more projects like this in the Burbank market?

McCormick: The Burbank market is an incredibly attractive area for studios and creative office alike, creating a strong demand for available space to develop ground-up office space and renovate existing facilities. With The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., NBC Universal and DreamWorks, there is a healthy demand for companies in the field of special effects, music editing, post-production, studio equipment, and myriad of other providers in the entertainment delivery chain.

While McCormick has completed numerous creative office projects in the Burbank market, this particular project is distinct. The design is unique, especially the extensive use of white cement on the exterior closure. Additionally, the project had to be staged and constructed in order to remain sensitive to ongoing operations throughout the rest of the Nickelodeon campus. By coordinating efforts with the project team, we were able to mitigate noise and other potential disruptions from the heavy equipment on-site.

GlobeSt.com: Why was sustainability important to the project, and how did you achieve LEED certification?

McCormick: Sustainability is an important part of every project McCormick builds. The Nickelodeon project will be LEED Gold. McCormick provided the infrastructure necessary to attain the Gold rating once the interiors are certified. Specifically, the MPE systems and exterior closure were key to getting the overall project certified. Other McCormick sustainable Burbank projects include a 300,000 SF LEED Gold project, and a LEED Silver project under construction.

GlobeSt.com: How is this project indicative of other design trends you are seeing?

McCormick: One of the most prominent trends within the Nickelodeon project, and a huge goal for Nickelodeon, was linking the indoor/outdoor collaboration space to foster creativity for employees. Additionally, the building maximizes natural light and includes multiple outdoor balcony spaces and lush landscaping – all which help elevate the connection to the outdoors, promoting health and wellness. The facility is also located in close proximity to a nearby Metrolink station, which provides additional transportation options to Nickelodeon employees.

GlobeSt.com: What was your vision for this project?

GlobeSt.com: Have you seen more projects like this in the Burbank market?

GlobeSt.com: Why was sustainability important to the project, and how did you achieve LEED certification?

GlobeSt.com: How is this project indicative of other design trends you are seeing?

Instant Insights /

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