The new building offers 250,000 square ft of space dedicated to collaboration, innovation and servicing the live entertainment industry.
Known simply as Pod # 2, the second phase of the Rock Lititz campus development is a multi-tenant facility designed to attract businesses that serve the live entertainment industry. The 250,000 square-ft building will be located on 10.08 acres of the 96-acre campus. Construction of Pod # 2 at Rock Lititz is underway and aiming for a December 2016 completion.
As of groundbreaking, the facility is at 75% occupancy with nine companies committed as tenants, two of which are relocating their headquarters to Lititz.
Daniel McPhillips, President of ATOMIC, said: “Joining the Rock Lititz Campus is a natural move for us. ATOMIC has enjoyed a 20-year relationship with industry giants Clair Global and TAIT in our hometown of Lititz.
“Now we’ll have the opportunity to collaborate in more ways, while starting new relationships with entertainment companies moving into the area.”
Another 10 to 12 tenants are intended to eventually occupy space in the building. Confirmed tenants of Pod # 2 at Rock Lititz include:
ATOMIC – a provider of set construction, rental solutions, lighting, design and production services to clients across the globe, the Lititz-based company will use the new facility for the expansion of custom scenic set construction capabilities.
Clair Global – utilising additional space to support the Lititz-headquartered company’s expansion into new product lines.
CM Motors – Columbus McKinnon Entertainment Technology (CM-ET) provides lifting and positioning equipment for riggers, from international sporting events and tours to Broadway productions.
The Amherst – New York-based company will utilise the space for storage, warehouse and a training facility.
Lititz Rec Center – lessee of Pod # 2’s fitness area, which will be open to the public as well as employees, guests and clients of the Pod # 2 at Rock Lititz businesses. This north Lititz location will complement the Lititz Rec Center’s existing fitness complex.
Project Opus Films – a video and film production company that will relocate from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Rock-It Cargo – based in Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, Rock-It Cargo is a logistics company specialising in handling cargo freight for touring entertainment.
TFB Catering – Lancaster-based hospitality business owned by brothers Josh and Jake Funk (also currently the exclusive caterer at Rock Lititz Studio) will operate the building’s cafeteria, coffee station and campus catering.
Tour Supply – a one-stop shop for products for the professional touring industry. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, the business is using warehouse space to support touring rehearsals at Rock Lititz Studio and other companies in the Rock Lititz community.
Upstage Video – provides LED video solutions for large-scale events and venues. Upstage Video will relocate its company headquarters from Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
Rock Lititz Properties partner, Adam Dacis, who is also Chief Creative Officer of TAIT Towers, said: “Rock Lititz is a live event technology campus bringing together world class industry leaders.
“Pod # 2 and future development will bring together incredible talent from different sectors from within our industry. The diverse mixture of expertise within the Rock Lititz community is driving unmatched innovation, further cementing Lititz as the centre of the live event universe.”
The facility design includes a combination of individual tenant spaces connected to a large common area that will create the collaborative hub. The building will also feature open, industrial spaces with an eclectic mix of industrial chic and bohemian flair.
Stephanie Kicera, the project’s Interior Designer, said: “Pod # 2 is designed to be a fun, creative environment.”
Huddle rooms, small-to-large conference rooms, a cafeteria and coffee station with seating are planned, as well as a gallery to exhibit employees’ works of art, products and ideas, plus outdoor seating, employee lounge and activity areas.
Doug Murray, President of Upstage Video, said: “Our move to Rock Lititz marks another milestone for Upstage Video on our 10th anniversary. We were fortunate to find a space housing the most innovative companies in our industry. “This move allows us to take advantage of Rock Lititz’s strong talent pool and creative environment to continue to build Upstage Video into a leading provider of unique, high-value LED solutions.”
Additionally, Tour Supply will make Lititz their east coast hub. Jessie Martin, the General Manager of Tour Supply, said: “Being the one stop shop for professional touring acts, we are excited to be a part of this exhilarating opportunity of surrounding ourselves with those who share the same commitment and dedication to these artists.
“We’ve woven wonderful relationships over the past two decades with touring professionals and this will only strengthen our ability to tend to their needs.”
Andrea Shirk, General Manager of Rock Lititz, said: “This ‘industry cluster’ model promotes interactions and personal relationships between people in different companies that build trust and facilitate the flow of unique market, technical, and competitive information.”
Future plans for the 96-acre campus include adding a lodging facility to provide overnight accommodations. A 2016 announcement is planned.