Vancouver: Paramount Studios has invested ‘seven figures’ into the construction of four soundstages and production office space at an empty Molson Brewery distribution center in the eastern part of Vancouver.

Sublet from Molson for five years, the facility on Bentall and Grandview Highway is 166,000 square feet and three storeys. It opened mid-June with four stages and room for two more and will be home to the Viper and Sentinel series for the coming season. Actual renovation costs are not public.

Bob Benjamin, producer of Viper, says the facility allows Paramount to put both shows under one roof, thereby taking advantage of scheduling and set efficiencies. Previously, the first season of Viper was shot in Calgary and the first two seasons of Sentinel were housed at North Shore Studios.

The facility ­ dubbed the Paramount Studio Complex ­ rivals the 182,000-square-foot, six-stage North Shore Studios in its size. Benjamin, however, says the current stage crunch is not the motivating factor in building the new production stages.

‘Paramount has long-term interests in Canada, especially in Vancouver, and this is a sizable commitment,’ says Benjamin, a Los Angeles resident. ‘We have a great crew and having everything under one roof makes for better shows. We’re very excited about this facility. It’s not often that you can build from scratch exactly what you want to build.’

The Paramount series Three, scheduled to begin later this summer, is not expected to be shot at the Bentall Street facility.

Benjamin marvels at the focused approach the City of Vancouver took in getting the facility operational quickly. Paramount signed the lease two months ago and there were 32 days between the first nails going into the walls and the move-in date. He credits city film coordinator Pat Fry for fast-tracking inspections, permits and approvals, evidence he says that Vancouver considers the film industry important.

‘Commitments from major industry players help build the industry base that sustains the kind of growth we are seeing,’ says Pete Mitchell, b.c.’s film commissioner. ‘Paramount’s long-term lease of Molson’s is a good example of the international confidence in our local industry.’

Viper, a syndicated series about an anti-crime unit and its specialized car, is currently shooting its second of 22 episodes. upn series Sentinel ­ about a crime solver with heightened sensory powers ­ will also shoot 22 episodes beginning the end of July. The shows are executive produced by Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo of Pet Fly Productions, a development company under contract with Paramount.

The Paramount Studio Complex ­ which includes space for wardrobe, accounting, set dressing and production office space and storage ­ employs about 350 full-time staff, not including second unit crews.