Thompson's Point signs event venue as new tenant
Courtesy / Landry/French Construction
A new venue for events from live music to weddings is set to open in January at Thompson's Point in Portland after signing The Halo Studio as a tenant in its Brick North building, shown above.
A new venue for events from live music to weddings is set to open in January at Thompson’s Point in Portland after signing The Halo Studio as a tenant in its Brick North building.
Halo, which provides state-of-the-art recording and creative technology for artists, producers and engineers, was founded in 2005 by Darren Elder, Jonathan Wyman and Kevin Billingslea, who have grown their venture into a seven-person team based in South Windham, in a restored 19th-century-era barn.
Elder, a writer, artist and producer who says he writes a song a day though he can’t disclose for which artists, said the plan is to continue Halo Studio’s current operations out of South Windham, while embarking on what he sees as an exciting adjacent endeavor.
“There will be a certain crossover,” he told Mainebiz by phone Thursday morning. “We’re going to bring the same mentality and the same approach.” He also said they would add to the team for the new venture, though it’s too early to put a number on hiring plans.
The future Halo at the Point, as the new venue will be called, will take over the 6,800 square-foot-space formerly occupied by Circus Maine. It will have a capacity of 400 or more, depending on the event, and open after a series of lighting, acoustical and other upgrades.
“We’re going to be trying to preserve the natural rugged beauty of the space while incorporating a lot of the specific discipline in audio and visual that we bring,” Elder said, adding that some minor renovations were already underway. Once it’s up and running, Halo at the Point will collaborate with the Brick South Catering Company to provide bar service for events as needed, according to Thursday’s announcement.
Brick North’s current tenants include software development firm Big Room Studios, Bissell Brothers Brewing Co., Cellar Door Winery, Color Me Mine paint-your-own-pottery studios, the International Cryptozoology Museum, Stroudwater Distillery and Locally Sauced.
Elder said he looks forward to working “forever’” with the team at Thompson’s Point, whom he and his colleague know from their collaboration on the Sunaana Winter Music Festival and other events.
“We really love the team and they’re all consummate professionals,” he said.
Thompson’s Point is led by Jed Troubh and Chris Thompson, who have turned the 30-acre property from a derelict former railroad yard into a well-frequented, mixed-use neighborhood that includes the Brick South Event Venue, with capacity up to 2,500 people, and seasonal outdoor ice skating.
In addition, the Children’s Museum and Theatre and Maine will be moving to the site with a newly constructed building scheduled to open in 2020. The owners are also moving ahead with the 148-room Hotel Portland, that will be part of the Tribute Portfolio by Marriott.
“We are thrilled that Darren Elder and his team from Halo have decided to join us at Thompson’s Point,” said Troubh in Thursday’s announcement. “They have earned tremendous respect in the event industry and are considered among the best of the best when it comes to delivering unique programming, top quality production and hands-on expertise.”
Thompson also praised Halo’s reputation for excellence and added: “To have them here at the Point, eager to work with us and our tenants to create an extraordinary new venue for Portland is truly exciting.”
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