NBCUniversal Campus Project
At NBCUniversal’s historic working studio lot, a transformation of the landscape sparks the transformation of where and how creative work happens across a newly connected campus. A collaboration between LEVER and James Corner Field Operations, the Campus Project draws inspiration from the beauty of the Southern California landscape to revive a unique sense of culture and place at NBCUniversal. After a century of growth and infill across the lot, this expansion restores lush gardens and creates new green spaces, bringing people closer to the outdoors and to one another.
Outdoor amenities are central to the expansion: the siting of the new office building and the Commons building work together with the existing structures to frame a new central green at the social heart of the campus. Lawns shaded by mature trees make the green a flexible space for picnics and events, from movie screenings and farmer’s markets to all-hands town hall meetings and galas.
A new “green spine” runs the full length of the lot, connecting the campus with a lushly-planted paseo that brings pedestrians from the arrival commons all the way to the plaza. The paseo and plaza provide digitally-connected garden workspaces, outdoor dining areas, and a variety of flexible gathering areas - fully blending indoor and outdoor spaces. The campus expansion design seeks to foster creativity and innovation by encouraging people to leave their cubicles and studios, inviting chance interactions and bringing creativity into inspiring public spaces.
A rendering of the NBCUniversal lot shows the full reach of the new paseo.
A before aerial view shows the studio lot prior to the project.
At the end of the paseo, the plaza meets the new office building.
A concept model shows the office building stepping up the hillside.
Expansive views from the rooftop terrace.
To complement the new office, a variety of amenities and garden workspaces also encourage outdoor work, meetings, and gatherings under the shade of mature trees.
The Commons' design draws inspiration from the birth of the moving image in the early circular zoetropes.
The screen that wraps the Commons provides optimal shading from the sun without obscuring views, and is custom-designed to create subtly shifting patterns of light that appear different from different angles.
3/4
A mock-up of the Commons' custom screen exterior
4/4
Construction progress on the office and the Commons buildings viewed from Universal Hollywood Drive
1/4
Construction progresses on the office building (R) as the Commons building begins to rise from the ground.
2/4
A model shows the plaza, office building, and the Commons amidst a canopy of mature tree plantings in the new California-inspired campus landscape.
3/4
A mock-up of the Commons' custom screen exterior
4/4
Construction progress on the office and the Commons buildings viewed from Universal Hollywood Drive
1/4
Construction progresses on the office building (R) as the Commons building begins to rise from the ground.
2/4
A model shows the plaza, office building, and the Commons amidst a canopy of mature tree plantings in the new California-inspired campus landscape.
Related
A rendering of the NBCUniversal lot shows the full reach of the new paseo.
A before aerial view shows the studio lot prior to the project.
At the end of the paseo, the plaza meets the new office building.
A concept model shows the office building stepping up the hillside.
Expansive views from the rooftop terrace.
To complement the new office, a variety of amenities and garden workspaces also encourage outdoor work, meetings, and gatherings under the shade of mature trees.
The Commons' design draws inspiration from the birth of the moving image in the early circular zoetropes.
The screen that wraps the Commons provides optimal shading from the sun without obscuring views, and is custom-designed to create subtly shifting patterns of light that appear different from different angles.