INTRODUCING SPHERE - A STUDIO COMPLEX FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

An old laundry in South West London is now a 'hard hat' zone as work gets underway on the construction of Sphere Studios - the most ambitious music recording complex to be built in the capital for many years.

The new studio is set to rival London's finest and will operate as a fully commercial venture incorporating three main control rooms dedicated to tracklaying, stereo mixing and 5.1 surround mixing. There will also be six white rooms available for hire to artists and independent producers, plus extensive ISDN facilities, plenty of parking and a licensed bar.

The main partners behind Sphere are musician and producer Francesco Cameli and Malcolm Atkin, formerly general manager of Sir George Martin's Air Lyndhurst facility. During the construction of Air Lyndhurst Atkin was involved in all aspects of its design and later took responsibility for its commercial operation.

Atkin says: "In order to develop the music industry on a global basis there is a genuine requirement for recording facilities that can offer the most up to date technical solutions. With Sphere we are in a new build situation and therefore we have the opportunity to develop a facility that is truly designed for the future. The construction of the complex and the equipment we install will reflect our intention to offer facilities that far exceed those currently on the market in the UK."

The design of the main studios and White Rooms is being handled by UK-based consultancy Munro Associates. Cameli and Atkin, with the assistance of Sphere's technical manager Tom Schlum, are currently finalising the technical specification for the three studios, which will include the latest state of the art equipment.

Atkin adds: "At Sphere we want to build a community of like-minded individuals who can work creatively without the hindrance of artificial barriers. Our approach will be state of the art and totally flexible because we believe that is what the market needs."

With construction now underway Sphere is aiming for a two-stage completion: by November, 2000, all six White Rooms will be up and running, while the main studios will be opened in the Spring of 2001. Over the next few months expect to hear more from 'South Chelsea' where a studio complex for the 21st century is being born.