Headquartered Manhattan, Jesuit publisher America Media, announced plans to relocate to more modern facilities in early 2016. Having diversified in recent years into nonprint platforms, America Media’s new facility would require an infrastructure that would allow them to continue their multiplatform expansion, redesigning existing platforms and launching new digital products including video.

The new space was gutted for a complete renovation. Truephonic, consultants for Marvel Architects in broadcast systems and acoustical design, brought in OSA to bring the system design to life. The result was a 10,800 square feet modern facility suited to a 21st century media ministry. OSA installed the audiovisual for the office areas, including the newsroom and conference rooms, as well as the broadcast studio, control room, editing suite, news room and more.

The control room was built around four positions. The video operator and audio mix engineer sit closest to the wall where four Sony displays were mounted for multi-view. Two A/V racks were positioned under the desk behind them. Due to the compact size of the room, careful consideration was placed on the position of each piece of gear in the racks based on where each member of the production crew would sit and their ability to turn 180 degrees to access the equipment most appropriate to their positions, as well as the reality behind which gear would need to be used most often. The second desk is a composite for the show needs, as well as a seat for the producer.

OSA installed a Blackmagic Design broadcast system. The components were selected to create a cohesive and user-friendly experience for the users. Additionally, this system was chosen as it offered a good balance between the client’s budget and its features. And, because most of its components are 4K capable, the broadcast system was chosen with an upgrade path in mind for the future.

The editing suite, a separate sound-proof room, contains two desks. The primary desk allows the editor to work in real-time on the show in the main studio, or to work offline as in an office. Behind the editor seat there is an additional location with intercom where a second producer or client can sit. The editing suite also contains additional equipment to interface with the broadcast video and audio systems from a computer for playback or capture.

The client moved into their new headquarters in 2018 and is overjoyed with their new facility and modern studio in the middle of New York’s media hub. Stephen Colbert was the first person to be interviewed for a talk show that aired in the fall of 2018!