Watt Capital Partners, through its subsidiary Watt Investment Partners, acquired the Centinela Studios property at 3401 Exposition Boulevard in Santa Monica in 2012. Originally built in 1961 as the headquarters for the American Shower Door Company, the 60,000-square-foot facility had been utilized as a sound stage for various television and film productions, including “7th Heaven,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and “The Doors.”
Upon acquisition, Watt Investment Partners initiated a comprehensive renovation to transform the aging industrial space into modern creative office environments. The planned upgrades encompassed:
Installation of new exterior windows to enhance natural lighting
Addition of Epi wood siding for a contemporary façade
Incorporation of skylights to further increase daylight penetration
Upgrades to power and HVAC systems to meet current standards
Creation of outdoor spaces to provide tenants with functional and aesthetic amenities
These renovations aimed to attract creative tenants in the entertainment and media sectors, capitalizing on the property’s strategic location in Santa Monica.