Reena Patel, Kink.com’s vice president of marketing, told XBIZ that the historic building historic building was purchased from a private owner after numerous bids from other companies went south because of gentrification issues. Patel said the armory eventually will house the entire Kink.com office staff of more than 65 people, and all production that’s not shot on location will take place within the walls of the 200,000-square-foot-plus armory.
While the sprawling building is production-ready, the building has not been in use for 30 years. Patel said some interior work needs to be completed, but the “exterior and foundation won’t be touched and [Kink.com] intends to restore the building to its original glory.” Patel said some production already has taken place in the facility and that she expects it to take two years before all office and production space would be ready.
Modeled after a Moorish Castle, the armory was completed in 1914 and was used as a National Guard facility until 1976. The building includes dungeon-like basements, stone staircases, sweeping corridors and a gigantic drill court spanning almost an acre. During rioting in San Francisco in 1934, it served as both a barricade and safety point for officers. The Armory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
“I have been excited about the Armory ever since I first toured it 18 months ago,” Kink.com CEO and founder Peter Acworth said. “It is a historic monument with amazing character, and I believe it has wonderful potential as a movie production studio. Whereas any other use for this building would require major renovations, we’re able to use the building in its present condition. We expect shoots to start within a few weeks and for material shot at the Armory to be available on our existing sites within a month.”
Kink.com also intends to rent portions of the building to local San Francisco movie production studios, both mainstream and adult.
