Sony Pictures Animation (SPA), its vfx branch Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI), and anime distributor/streamer Crunchyroll will leave their offices at the historic Culver Studios in Culver City, California, when their leases end in May 2024.
Details about the move:
- The three divisions will set up shop about a 20-minute drive away, at 5750 Wilshire Blvd, bringing about 700 employees to the new digs. The move puts them in closer proximity to Hollywood, Burbank, and Glendale, where most of L.A.’s other animation studios are located.
- SPA and SPI have been in the Culver offices for 25 years, but in January 2021 real estate investment and operating company Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital Management purchased the property. Amazon Studios has been growing its presence on the Culver lot in recent years.
- SPA/SPI’s relocation will land the company on the Miracle Mile, a stretch of land that is home to the offices of NBCUniversal, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the new Academy Museum, and the SAG-AFTRA building.
- Employees were notified about the move on Wednesday in an office memo from Sony Pictures executive vp of real estate and facilities Craig Schwartz who said they had located the property “after a comprehensive market search.” Schwartz said they had taken about 225,000-square-feet at the Wilshire Courtyard complex and would move in April 2024.
- According to the memo, the new location includes four stacked-floors of offices with “increased proximity that encourages collaboration and improves connectivity,” a central dining area, a coffee bar exclusive to Sony companies, a new movie theater, and both public and private outdoor spaces with communal seating.
- Architecture firm RIOS is handling an interior design remodel of the new offices.
