These photos are now amongst the digitized repertoire of the content appearing on LED screens along the rotunda perimeter, reinforcing a historic sense of place while also providing flexible programming options through contemporary technology. The original mezzanine rotunda featured a circular mural of black and white photographs by Margaret Bourke-White depicting NBC’s early years as a broadcast network. 'Ribbons' of curved LED screens 60-foot long x 5-foot high align the entire rotunda, creating an intriguing and entertaining waiting experience where studio visitors can engage with the dynamic graphics and enjoy this historic-inspired space in the round. Suspended from the round rotunda ceiling, floating directly above the Grand Stair is a spectacular 12-foot diameter, bronze ringed chandelier, up-lighting its silver-leafed surface evocative of the long lost fixture from the original mezzanine. The Athens Grey stone walls flanking the Grand Stair are reminiscent of the original striated stone used in the 1930s design. A unified aesthetic of fluted bronze, black terrazzo, and Athens Grey marble evoke a sense of art deco tradition seen throughout the rest of 30 Rockefeller Center. This sense of historic integrity is expressed through deliberate design decisions in the space. Having been responsible for the redesign of other landmarked spaces within 30 Rockefeller Center, the firm’s approach to landmark preservation is always centered on cultural memory and qualitatively extending the life of buildings and public places for the next generation. The vision in recreating the Grand Stair and Mezzanine Rotunda lies not in replicating the past, but in burnishing the history and shaping the future of this legendary complex. The Rotunda was designed to evoke the original lobby design from the 1930s, including its 16-foot-wide dramatic, theatrical Grand Stair leading the public up into the mezzanine. This landmark facility serves as a prolific beacon for NBCUniversal’s ever-expanding broadcasting and entertainment network. Diving deep into archives for the original plans and photographs, the team was able to reignite the historical integrity of the space. With multiple guest audiences ranging from 145 to 330 people several times throughout the day, the modernized design needed to provide programmatic flexibility within an engaging backdrop. The mezzanine and rotunda were originally designed in the 1930s to welcome audiences attending RCA radio shows, however, had been demolished in the late 1970s. NBCUniversal commissioned a redesign of the ground floor lobby and mezzanine, comprising of 25,912-square-feet in total. Situated within the iconic art deco building of 30 Rockefeller Center are the broadcasting studios and executive offices of NBCUniversal.
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