Albany, The Bahamas (May 9, 2018)—UK studio design consultancy White Mark Ltd has been involved with more than 600 recording and production facilities during its 21-year history, but according to managing director David Bell, The Sanctuary at Albany, which opened last month in the Bahamas, is right up there with the best of them.
“It’s impressive—both visually and acoustically,” says Bell. “Just the idea of building a studio like this in today’s economic climate seemed like a brave thing to do, but when we saw what the owners were trying to achieve in terms of aesthetics, acoustic quality and location, we were blown away—and very proud to be part of such an incredible project.”
Located at Albany, a 600-acre luxury resort community on the island of New Providence, and backed by Joe Lewis, golfing greats Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, and actor and musician Justin Timberlake, The Sanctuary powered by Monster Energy sits alongside a mega-yacht marina surrounded by luxury residences.
Initially conceived in a conversation with Albany resident Charles Goldstuck, entrepreneur and investor, currently founder and co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment, and Christopher Anand, managing partner of Albany, the studio took four years to complete. White Mark Ltd was involved from a very early stage, helping with equipment choices as well as studio design and acoustics alongside Danish architect Bjarke Ingels of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and studio director Ann Mincieli, owner of New York City’s Jungle City Studio and longtime engineer and studio coordinator for Alicia Keys.
The Sanctuary has six studios: a main control room and live room with two vocal booths, plus five smaller studios that are equipped with Pro Tools and Mac workstations. The control room is equipped with a 48-channel Solid State Logic Duality Delta console, custom Exigy monitors and a host of outboard gear including digital and many vintage pieces. The oak-paneled live room has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the yacht harbor plus, along with the two booths, clear lines of sight into the control room.
There is also the Monster Energy Green Room, equipped with a kitchen, an outdoor courtyard with a hot tub and gas grill featuring a commissioned mural painting from street artist Kelly “Risk” Graval, and a Moët vending machine dispensing split bottles of its champagne.
“This project was a truly special opportunity for all of us at White Mark,” David Bell says.
“The accuracy of the control room, the incredible open and warm feel of the main live room and booths set against views that are beyond inspiring, contribute to a studio that brought together all that we have learned in our careers to date. The experience of hearing the first playing of the Steinway in the main live room will live with me for a long time. I hope that those who use the studio and take it forward feel the same, and I look forward to hearing from them as time passes.”
Through partnerships with music programs such as the Berklee School of Music, Kennesaw State University’s Joel A. Katz Music and Business Program and other institutions, The Sanctuary also offers academy-style teaching programs and scholarships to local Bahamian teens through the Bahamas Youth Foundation.
White Mark Ltd • www.whitemark.com
