Ground broken for ‘state-of-the-art’ media production center

Ground was broken Tuesday morning for construction of a nearly $1 million multimedia center on West Hathaway Ave.

The media production center will be the home of Maricopa-based ministry XPMedia, a national organization that shares Christian beliefs through film and other media.

“I am so excited,” said XPMedia founder Patricia King. “It is such a blessing to break ground on this project. We can’t wait for it to open.”

The center, located west of John Wayne Parkway across from the post office, was originally scheduled for completion in December 2010. However, the group decided to redesign the project to meet new city design standards proposed for the area where the project will be built.

The scope of the project was reduced from a two-story 9,046-square-foot structure to a one-story 5,046-square-foot building. With the redesign, the project is now slated for completion in July, according to King.

The building will include a film studio, four editing bays, a sound room, a green room and administrative offices.

“This is going to be a state of the art facility,” said project manager Tom Ramsdell.

King said XPMedia will use the studio to film nationally syndicated television shows and host training classes in acting, editing and film production.

For more information visit XPmedia.com.