Higher Elevation Studio, a newly completed media facility on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, is now open following a few years of construction that began during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The multi-room studio offers a professional environment for audio recording, video production, and post-production, with a design shaped by veteran engineers and local tradespeople.

The project began in 2020, led by Royce Harris and Eileen Richardson, CEO of DiaDan Holdings Ltd. Richardson brought in longtime collaborators Kevin Hughes of Design Technik in Texas and James Salter of California, both of whom worked with her in Los Angeles at The Evergreen Stage. Their combined experience in studio design, along with Richardson’s network in the American music and film industries, guided the development of the facility.

“There was no playbook for building something like this during a pandemic,” said Richardson. “We worked through lockdowns, supply chain breakdowns, and global uncertainty. The decision to move forward was grounded in long-term vision.”

The original structure on the property required significant structural improvements. One of the first major steps was removing the damaged wooden roof and installing a new steel roof with trusses and a skylight. Once the building was secured, the team focused on interior work, following custom plans developed by Hughes and Salter. 

Higher Elevation Studio now includes three primary production rooms. Studio A, located on the main level, is a recording suite with vocal and instrument isolation booths. Studio B functions as a television studio, equipped with a permanent interview set. Studio C, on the lower level, was designed for informal jam sessions, teaching sessions, and small group recording. 

The facility also includes a lounge, a full kitchen, and a guest suite on the top floor. Visiting producers or artists can access a self-contained area that includes a bathroom, kitchen, and conference room. 

Throughout the construction process, a team of local master craftsmen executed the build. Working from detailed plans and adapting to site-specific needs, they completed millwork, acoustic treatments, and structural elements. According to those involved in the project, the craftsmanship met the standards of major city studios. 

“The tradespeople who worked on this studio brought a very high level of detail to every part of the project. This facility wouldn’t exist without their consistency and professionalism,” says Richardson.

The equipment inside Higher Elevation Studio reflects Richardson’s decades-long involvement with the Los Angeles studio circuit. The facility includes a vintage Custom Gretsch drum kit, a Wurlitzer A-200, a Hammond B3 organ, and several acoustic and electric guitars. The studio also houses large diaphragm microphones and an original Telefunken U47 tube mic. Additional vintage microphones round out the collection. 

Much of the analog and tube-based gear was sourced with assistance from EveAnna Manley, owner of California’s Manley Laboratories Inc., who has maintained a working relationship with Richardson and Salter for years. 

“We wanted to build a space that had the warmth and character of analog equipment. Artists who come here are working with gear with a strong history in professional recording,” says Richardson.

Studio C doubles as a teaching facility.  Musicians and producers have used the space for masterclasses, training sessions, and music education programming. The intention behind its layout was to accommodate both production and instruction without compromising sound isolation or equipment quality. 

The studio’s geographic location offers a level of quiet and privacy not often found near large urban centers. This quality has attracted visiting musicians, sound engineers, and film professionals seeking focused work sessions away from city environments. 

Richardson said the surrounding environment played a role in the design process. “The land here formed the pace of the build. We weren’t rushing. We wanted the space to reflect the calm and clarity of the region itself.” 

Today, Higher Elevation Studio is a completed facility equipped for full-spectrum media production. Backed by DianDan Holdings and guided by Richardson’s leadership, its development through a period of global disruption reflects the persistence of the team and the direction set by its founders.