ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – More than five years after buying the old “Albuquerque Studios” in Mesa del Sol, for the first time ever, Netflix is opening its doors to show off major upgrades to the place. “And with this expansion, we’re excited to take our relationship to the next level,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Co-CEO.
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Netflix bought Albuquerque Studios back in 2018, marking the streaming entertainment giant’s first studio complex in the world. Nearly six years in the making, Netflix unveiled their West Coast Production.
“It was the first time we ever bought a production studio complex, and the combination of these incredible landscapes, the amazing talent and the support of community have made this a perfect fit for us,” said Serandos.
At the time, it was just 28 acres of studio space, but with years of construction and new additions, Netflix Studios is now 108 acres which the company says will help them do more. The added studio space incorporates environmentally friendly additions like solar and battery systems, geothermal heating and cooling, and 50 electric vehicle fast chargers.
Those additions are alongside the three new studios, production office and stage support buildings and they’re not done. “Remember this is the first phase of this, so we still have a lot more to go, so you know, construction of a back lot, additional stage spaces, postproduction facilities, all of those things are in the plans for…to continue to grow our production footprint in New Mexico,” said Serandos.
Netflix says eventually they’re aiming to get over 300 acres of developed studio space in Albuquerque. It says it has hired more than 4,000 cast and crew members in the state between 2021 and 2023.
Their most recent production, “Ransom Canyon”, employed more than 700 New Mexicans. The company says it has invested $575-million in 12 film and tv projects here since 2019.
