Rock Lititz to open second live entertainment rehearsal and production campus

Rock Lititz is expanding to Music City U.S.A.

The company is partnering with a developer to build a rehearsal and production campus for the live event industry in Nashville, Tennessee, to be dubbed Rock Nashville.

Forty acres will be developed on the 55-acre property, which is planned to include 514,000 square feet of rehearsal facilities — one up to 95 feet tall — offices, and production facilities.

The Rock Nashville campus will largely mirror Rock Lititz in size and scope of rehearsal amenities and multi-tenant spaces for businesses that support the live event industry. In addition to two rehearsal studios for arena/amphitheater tours, Rock Nashville will also include 13 other rehearsal spaces to accommodate a variety of more intimate-sized performance venues.

The Rock Nashville campus will include:

• 13 band and production rehearsal studios ranging from 600 square feet to 2100 square feet to provide space for events of all sizes, from band rehearsals to stadium productions
• One full-sized arena/stadium production rehearsal facility
• One full-sized amphitheater/arena size full production rehearsal facility
• Backline rental
• More than 300 lockers
• Set storage
• Artist relation offices
• A community café

Plans do not include a hotel, public-access restaurant or live event industry-focused education facility, all of which are part of the Rock Lititz campus.

Rock Lititz is partnering with Al. Neyer, a commercial real estate developer and design-builder to develop the rehearsal and production campus.

In February, the joint venture closed on a property less than 10 miles from downtown Nashville’s key attractions and famed music venues.

“As we approach ten years since Rock Lititz opened its doors, we’ve been eager to find the next space and partner for expanding our support for the live entertainment industry,” Andrea Shirk, president and CEO of Rock Lititz, said in a news release. “This unique and hard-working community thrives with access to specialized training, mentoring, and resources to help create custom live experiences for audiences worldwide. It is with great excitement that we’ve identified Nashville and Al. Neyer as the right city and partner. We are passionate about growing this network, and Nashville is the perfect location to join with other industry leaders to create something special.”

Shirk also emphasized the company’s commitment to its first facility.

“We remain committed to the Lititz community and central Pennsylvania,” Shirk said. “Rehearsals, operations and growth plans for Lititz remain in place, and we are excited to expand our rehearsal studio options at the Rock Lititz campus as construction of the Academy of Live Technology will be completed in May. The strategic addition of Rock Nashville will continue the Rock Lititz legacy as a leader in supporting the live event industry.”

Officials said Rock Nashville will serve both artists and the behind-the-scenes professionals supporting all genres of music and live entertainment, from up-and-coming local acts to globally recognized performers.

Confirmed future tenants include audio products and live production services company, Clair Global, and Soundcheck, a rehearsal, backline and tour support business.

“As a member of the Nashville entertainment community for over 30 years, we couldn’t be more excited to make Rock Nashville our new home,” Kindal Jumper, general manager of Soundcheck, said in the news release.

Construction began last month, and officials hope to complete the project next year.

Rock Lititz was founded in 2000 by Troy Clair, owner of Clair Global, and Adam Davis, CEO of the Tait Group. The Rock Lititz campus opened in 2014 in Warwick Township, Lancaster County, to create a space for the live entertainment industry. It is now home to more than 40 different companies and employs nearly 2,000 people.

The space also includes fitness facilities, collaborative spaces, art galleries, restaurants, bars, bike sharing, a doctor’s office, and Hotel Rock Lititz. Rock Lititz will welcome the Academy of Live Technology later this spring which will offer industry training in a four-year BFA program in partnership with the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.