Media-focused collaborative workspace planned for downtown B.R.

A collaborative workspace for visual media professionals called Creative Bloc is planned to open this summer, encompassing 11,500 square feet at the corner of Main and Eighth streets downtown. The space will also serve as the new Baton Rouge headquarters of Launch Media, a video production firm currently located at Celtic Media Centre. Launch Media also has offices in New Orleans. The company’s executive producer and president, John Jackson, announced the plans this morning. He says Jackson Group Investments, an affiliate of Launch Media, recently acquired the property—formerly home to four retail shops—from Bob Dean. “It’s going to be a complete renovation,” Jackson says. “We’re aiming to have it completed and open by the summer.” Creative Bloc will have workstations and offices available for lease to established businesses and budding entrepreneurs focused on video, film, photography, graphic arts and app development. Resources provided at the workspace will include a fully equipped video and sound production studio, as well as post-production suites and media server. “We’re hoping to do some small spaces for independent photographers or artists, and also some larger spaces for more established companies,” Jackson says. “The number of tenants we’ll end up with will really depend on the demand.” —Steve Sanoski