Great Point Studios Opens Lionsgate Studios Yonkers

Great Point Studios has opened the doors to Lionsgate Studios Yonkers, with plans for a $500 million-plus expansion already in place.

Lionsgate Studios Yonkers was created to satisfy the demand for large studio space in the New York City area. Approximately 11 miles from midtown Manhattan, the campus features state-of-the-art film stages, postproduction facilities, screening rooms, office space and support space.

Three large soundstages are now open, with 500,000 square feet of office and support space. The expansion will bring the total up to 11 soundstages. Great Point Studios has also purchased eight acres of additional land around the originally announced studio site. Construction is already underway, and the expansion is scheduled to be completed in phases starting in September 2022, with total completion slated for December 2023.

Lionsgate, Mediapro and Syracuse University will be long-term tenants of the facility.

Lionsgate has expanded its role as anchor tenant and will occupy seven of the 11 planned stages.

“With demand for new content greater than ever and prime studio space at a premium, we’re pleased to partner with Great Point on the opportunity to become an anchor tenant of the Yonkers studios,” said Jon Feltheimer, CEO of Lionsgate. “They will give our television and film productions state-of-the-art East Coast soundstages with great proximity to New York City, and we look forward to them becoming an important hub for our global production activities.”

Mediapro inked a long-term deal to be a key tenant on the site. It will take occupancy of its first stage later this year and has options on two more of the planned expansion stages.

“Mediapro recently expanded its operations in the U.S. with two new production centers in great locations, and our aim through this partnership is to continue our growth in the country and globally,” stated Irantzu Diez Gamboa, CEO of Mediapro US. “We are very pleased with the partnership with Great Point Studios and are very excited to form part of the largest film and television production complex in the Northeast. We believe that with the increase in new content productions, this space provides an opportunity for our in-house content creation, production and distribution factory, The Mediapro Studio, to grow, and also to increase our portfolio of studios to provide broadcast and media services to third parties.”

The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University has partnered with Great Point Studios to create a learning and hands-on working experience for TV, radio and film students. Beginning this month, the school will use the facility as a classroom and will have access to all stages and equipment.

“At the Newhouse School, we are always looking for ways to ensure that our students have access to frontline industry experiences,” said Mark J. Lodato, dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. “The immersive film environment at Lionsgate Studios Yonkers is visionary and will propel our film experience, particularly on the East Coast. Thanks to our alumnus Robert Halmi and Great Point Studios, we are thrilled to be able to offer our film students the opportunity to learn and work at what will be one of the most cutting-edge media enterprises in the country.”

Great Point Studios Founder Robert Halmi said, “We have a shared vision for the future of the entertainment industry, and it’s reflected in every detail we put into this complex. Given the expected rise in studio production post-Covid, we are confident that expanding our Yonkers studio will attract quality tenants. We are proud that Lionsgate, Mediapro and Syracuse University share our vision and are strongly supporting our project.”

Joe Cotter, CEO of National Resources, a key investment partner and project developer at Lionsgate Studios Yonkers, said, “We are very proud to work with Great Point Studios and Lionsgate to help change the production industry landscape. Our combined efforts will help make the newly revitalized Yonkers a sought-after destination for talent from around the world.”

Great Point Studios’ institutional financial partner is an affiliate of Lindsay Goldberg, a private investment firm. David Goldberg, VP of Lindsay Golberg, said, “Robi and Fehmi [Zeko]’s deep industry expertise and entrepreneurial spirit make them the ideal leaders to build Great Point into a premier global studio platform. We are delighted to partner with Great Point on building this business and look forward to helping it thrive over the long term.”

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano added, “This state-of-the-art media complex will help complete the transformation of the Yonkers waterfront. Local commerce will benefit from the expected 1,000-plus people working at the studio complex daily. We look forward to welcoming Great Point Studios, Lionsgate and all of the new companies to Yonkers.”