An amendment request approved April 22 by the Coweta County Commission for Senoia’s Raleigh Riverwood Studios removed the requirement that all six buildings in a new site area designated for expansion include a brick facade. Studio President Scott Tigchelaar said tentative plans exist for the construction of one of the 15,000 sq. ft. buildings.
Approved by the commission in 2008 for six new buildings each totaling 15,000 square feet, Tigchelaar said construction of the first of six buildings is tentative, adding that the approval paves the way for construction when the need is confirmed.
“Due to changes in industry standards for new state construction, pre-engineered metal buildings with metal exteriors at a height of 45 feet are now the standard. With those dynamics, the expense of applying brick and the related modern stage height, the applicant is requesting relief to include split-faced block base on all four sides at a height of 10 feet. The remaining metal-clad exterior will be painted to provide an aesthetically pleasing movie studio campus,” said county planning director Robert Tolleson.
Per the unanimous vote by commissioners, only the building housing offices will be required to include a brick facade.
The first building in the new site location, a warehouse-type building, will be used for various film production purposes, said county zoning administrator Angela White, adding that one of the five remaining buildings to be used as office space will include a brick facade while the remaining four can use other facade materials.
The site location is west of the Central of Georgia railroad line on the western portion of the studio property, a short distance from the soundstage and other buildings locate on the property.
Tigchelaar said the approval will help meet the studio’s needs, including that of the current tenant, AMC television’s “The Walking Dead.”
The amendment request was made by Kudzu Productions, owner of the property on which Raleigh Riverwood Studios studio is located.
Raleigh Riverwood is the site of a 45,000 sq. ft. soundstage and another 50,000 square feet of space for use such as offices, production facilities and a mill.
