Electric Owl Studios celebrated the grand opening of the world’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified studio campus in Atlanta, GA. Located in the heart of DeKalb County, just south of Decatur, Electric Owl Studios is a purpose-built film and television studio committed to quality, community and sustainability. Co-founded by former Third Rail Studios executives, Dan Rosenfelt and Michael Hahn, Electric Owl Studios opened their doors on June 8, 2023 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and opening celebration.
The event was attended by nearly 150 guests, and included remarks from Hahn; Domain Capital Group’s Managing Director, Chuck Taylor; DeKalb County CEO, Michael Thurmond; DeKalb County Commissioners, Mereda Davis Johnson and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and closing remarks from Rosenfelt. Additional guests included Deputy Commissioner of the Georgia Film & Entertainment Office, Lee Thomas; Location Specialists from Georgia Department of Economic Development Craig Dominey and Lee Cuthbert; Dekalb County Commissioner, Robert Patrick; Chairman of DeKalb Entertainment Commission, Andrew Greenberg, among others.
“Our goal is to be the finest film & TV studio in the world by offering superior facilities, services, and a friendly, reliable experience for our production clients,” said Michael Hahn, Co-Founder and CEO of Capstone South Properties in a statement. “But what sets us apart is that Electric Owl Studios is the largest and greenest production facility in the world. And we hold the distinction of being the very first LEED Gold certified studio on earth. We believe we are at a pivotal moment in the global fight against climate change. In our opinion, creating an environmentally sustainable business is no longer something that is nice to do, but something that is necessary to do. ”
“Everything in our state of the art studios was created with a focus on providing a high-quality, user-friendly experience for our film & TV productions and environmental stewardship to reduce the impact we have on our planet,” added Co-Founder, Dan Rosenfelt. “Our leading innovations in design, construction practices, recycling efforts, high-efficiency HVAC, LED lighting, solar power, 48 EV stations, and more will have minimal impact on the environment and lasting impact on the film industry. Electric Owl Studios is truly setting the worldwide bar for sustainability in the entertainment industry.”
“This studio campus is evidence that economic growth and environmental sustainability can go together. They are not mutually exclusive,” said Michael Thurmond, CEO of DeKalb County. “When you have visionary leaders, the capital, the determination and the partnership, anything is possible.”
“Domain is proud to partner with Michael and Dan of Electric Owl Studios,” said Chuck Taylor, Managing Director of Real Estate Investments of Domain Capital Group. “The team is delivering a beautiful, state-of-the-art studio facility that will produce high-quality film and television content while setting a higher standard in sustainability for the entertainment industry.”
“This $50 million investment in South DeKalb is the world’s first purpose built and LEED certified green studio,” said DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson. “Today we are reminded that DeKalb County is uniquely positioned to embrace the growth of the film and entertainment industry. Today is a day that we’re moving DeKalb forward.”
“I want to thank Electric Owl and the people who choose DeKalb for doing business here and for the tax revenue and dollars that will be generated by your presence,” said DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.
Guests enjoyed light bites and refreshments and toured the studio space, guided by Rosenfelt, where sustainable amenities such as solar panels, LED lighting, living walls, high efficiency HVAC, food dehydrators for landscaping reuse, solar golf carts, water refill stations, and more were on display. All guests were provided with a digital guided tour of the 312,000 square foot production facility to get the full scope of the campus.
