Project Description
Overview
A global research university with over 24,000 students, Drexel is one of America’s 15 largest universities and ranks among the country’s top 100 institutes of higher learning. Student response to Drexel’s unique Music Industry Program has grown exponentially since it was introduced in 2004, Allen Sabinson, Dean of Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design recognized the need to expand the popular recording, mixing, production facility to effectively support the university’s nascent RAMP (Recording Arts & Music Production) and Music Business programs, and to house the Drexel Music Archive, a priceless collection of over 6000 master tapes acquired from Philadelphia’s landmark Sigma Sound studios.
Program
WSDG Partner/Project Manager, Romina Larregina reports that, “Drexel’s recently completed $4.5 million, 10,000 sq. ft. One Drexel Plaza Building provided us with a superb blank canvas to create a superb 21st Century audio production and education facility. Ensconced at the 2500 sq. ft. hub of the new complex the facility is tasked with providing students with a ‘real-world’ production, recording, mixing environment that immerses them in a fully realized state-of-the art studio.”
Design
Drexel’s new building meets all their initial needs and provides the luxury of additional space for future expansion. In 2016, WSDG developed a design program that incorporated their flagship studio (1,300 sq. ft.), which featured a corner window providing views from the student collaboration area into the main recording room, a (140 sq. ft.) post-production control room, (2) midi labs (1,000 sq. ft. each), a spacious student lounge and a unique (800 sq. ft.) master tape archive suite. Outfitted with the latest audio and video postproduction technology, this state-of-the art facility boasts customized acoustic treatments and fully isolated (floating) environments. Drexel students are now taking full advantage of the ultimate audio production learning experience.
Testimonial
Ryan Moys | Drexel University
Facilities Manager
“I have been able to record and mix a few projects for class presentations in the flagship studio and I can say that the studio is hands down the best studio in Philadelphia. The isolation is the best of any studio that I have ever worked at. The frequency response of the studio is very accurate with no buildups or noticeable resonances. Every musician, engineer, and producer that has visited the space has been absolutely impressed. I wish we could build more!“