Drexel University collaborated with the Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG) last spring to design its new modern audio production and education complex, after a $4.5 million fundraising campaign.

A global research university with over 24,000 students, Drexel is one of America’s 15 largest private universities, ranking 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 2001,” said Allen Sabinson, dean of Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. “We recognised the need to expand the popular recording, mixing, production facility to effectively support the two tracks of our popular Music Industry programs Recording Arts & Music Production (RAMP) and Music Business.

“WSDG founding partner, John Storyk, had guest lectured for our early classes. We were familiar with WSDG’s extensive educational facility credits and they were the obvious choice to create these new world-class teaching/production studios.”

WSDG partner/project manager, Romina Larregina added: “Drexel’s new One Drexel Plaza Building provided us with a superb blank canvas to create a teaching/production facility that would meet all their initial needs and provide the luxury of additional space for future expansion. In 2016, we developed a design program that incorporated their flagship studio (1,500 sq. ft.) which features a corner window from the student collaboration area with views into the main recording room. A post-production control room (140 sq. ft.), two midi labs (1,000 sq. ft. each), a spacious student lounge and a unique (800 sq. ft.) archive suite.

“This state-of-the art facility, designed with the latest audio and video equipment, customised acoustic treatments and fully isolated environments provides students with the ultimate hands on learning experience.”

In 2003, when Sigma Sound Philadelphia’s landmark recording studio closed its doors, Drexel was put in charge of the studio’s 35-year multi-format (1/4” mono to 2” multi track) tape library. The collection of more than 6000 master tapes is now housed within the One Drexel Plaza archive, and is available to aid students in learning the art of multi-track mixing, and preservation practices.

Remarked WSDG founding partner, John Storyk: “We always welcome the opportunity to help create teaching facilities like this new Drexel complex. It’s a privilege to apply our skills to creating studios dedicated to training tomorrow’s engineers, producers, recording artists, studio owners, educators and potential clients.”