Portfolio

Project: Loon Echo Studios,
Dexter Lake, New York (1995)
Owners: Shania Twain,
R.J. ‘Mutt’ Lange
Architect: Richard Hanpeter, AIA

Loon Echo Studios is a recording studio and residence for
visiting performing artists owned by country music superstar, Shania Twain and her Grammy Award winning record producer husband, Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange.

Constructed by Murnane Building Contractors in 1995, the Studios are located on a secluded private lake owned by the Lange’s in the northern Adirondack Mountains of New York State. Designed by Richard Hanpeter, AIA of Saranac Lake, New York, the Studios are constructed with a mixture of heavy timber framing, structural steel, concrete, and masonry construction. The exposed timber framing structure was hand hewn for decorative effect by Murnane’s craftsmen in the residence and entryway of the 20,000 sq. ft. complex.

Acoustical consultants from London, England were flown
in to fine tune the studio interiors where performers such
as Bryan Adams and Michael Bolton have worked.

Murnane’s involvement with the project began with the demolition of an existing house on site. Architectural elements from this house were incorporated in the new construction. Most noteworthy among these was the massive stone fireplace, meticulously disassembled,
and relocated to the Studio complex by Murnane’s
stone masons.

The sprawling estate, upon which the Studios are located, also features a new boathouse and a restored and enlarged horse barn, which is home to the Lange’s stable of Andalusian horses from Spain. Pathways wind toward elaborate stone steps leading to the beach, and gazebos featuring vistas of the lake and the mountains ring the site. The boathouse, horse barn, gazebos and stone steps were all constructed by Murnane.