Austin Studios

Austin Studios anchors Austin’s production infrastructure. Operated by the Austin Film Society in partnership with the City of Austin, this 20-acre campus at the former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport delivers 200,000 square feet of sound stages, flex space, mill facilities, and offices in central Austin at 1901 E 51st St, 78723. Dedicated tarmac supports base camp and parking.

Location & Legacy

The site opened in 2000 on repurposed airport hangars. It has hosted more than 1,100 projects, generated over $2.6 billion in economic impact, and supported 37,000 jobs. Richard Linklater’s Detour Filmproduction maintains offices here. The concentrated campus built Austin’s crew base, vendor network, and institutional knowledge that now serve the broader Texas production economy.

Producers gain immediate access to local talent and Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program grants, which can return up to 31% of qualified in-state spend.

Sound Stages

Two isolated stages handle dialogue work and controlled environments.

• Stage 3
  12,525 sq ft filming area + 230 sq ft office. 29 ft ceiling clearance. Sound-isolated walls and ceiling. 50-ton AC. 28.5 ft motorized rolling doors. Card access. Available now.
• Stage 5
  16,599 sq ft open-span filming area. 22 ft ceiling clearance. Sound-isolated walls and ceilings. 50-ton AC. 20 ft motorized rolling doors. Card access. Available now.

Flex Stages & Mill Space

These spaces support builds, large sets, and hybrid productions.

• Stage 1 (Vendor / Half Stage)
  11,539 sq ft hot warehouse + 4,508 sq ft conditioned office. 22 ft ceiling. Card access. Half stage available now.
• Stage 4
  27,921 sq ft mixed offices and studio space. Fully conditioned. 24 ft ceiling clearance. Card access. Available now.
• Stage 7 (Packaged with Creative Media Center)
  13,775 sq ft filming/mill/flex + 1,973 sq ft attached flex/storage. 26 ft to beams, 32 ft to ceiling. 75 ft motorized rolling doors. Available now.

Vendor & Warehouse Space

• Stage 6
  4,347 sq ft hot warehouse + conditioned private office. 20 ft ceiling. 60 ft motorized door. Currently under rental agreement.
• On-site partners include MPS Camera & Lighting Austin and Miscellaneous Rentals for fast gear access.

Creative Offices & Suites

• Creative Media Center (packaged with Stage 7)
  16,800 sq ft conditioned offices with 11 private suites. Kitchenette and locked mail room. Dedicated lot with two EV fast-charge stations. Additional suites available at tenant expense. Available now.
• Red Building
  10,000 sq ft conditioned offices across 24 private suites. Keypad and card access. Home to Austin Film Society main office, MPS Austin, Beth Sepko Casting, and Vicky Boone Casting. Two offices available.
• Bungalow A
  2,670 sq ft conditioned offices with 9 private suites. Card access. Available now.
• Bungalow B
  900 sq ft conditioned office and kitchenette. Card access. Available now.
• Bungalow E
  4,200 sq ft conditioned offices with 12 private suites. Card access. Available now.

Production Ecosystem

Austin Studios clusters essential services on one secure, card-access campus: casting (Beth Sepko Casting, Vicky Boone Casting), camera and lighting support (MPS Camera & Lighting Austin), and production vendors. High ceilings, large roll-up doors, and conditioned spaces reduce load-in time and crew fatigue. The central Mueller location shortens logistics compared with distant backlots.