National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Offices – Washington DC
The National Association of Broadcasters’ (NAB) new 63,500-SF headquarters in Washington DC reimagines elements of media and production for a modern interpretation of the rich and storied history of broadcast.
Hickok Cole drew inspiration from the company mission to complete the dynamic space for National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) offices in Washington DC.
Their new Navy Yard office offers a variety of flexible workstations, chic lounge spaces, and conference facilities equipped with high-quality A/V and media capabilities to support the many functions they host each year.
A variety of flexible workstations accommodating group and independent work were developed to comfortably transition employees from private offices to a collaborative open-office environment. On the top floor, a large conference facility with a 32-foot-wide screen, made up of 96 individual video tiles in addition to public amenity spaces – including several lounges, an expansive café, and an outdoor terrace with views of the Capitol – support public events and internal activities. Around the office, mounted screens stream news from member stations, immersing staff and visitors in a 360-degree media experience.
Custom graphics, artwork, and digital interactive displays showcase NAB’s mission, highlighting moments in history, and celebrating prominent broadcasters, programs, and networks. To inspire camaraderie among staff, NAB requested consistent branding and environmental graphics, holistically representative of the organization, across floors. Curated imagery represents a combination of NAB’s five tenets while exhibits wrapping the elevator cores cover their mission. Two Hall of Fame exhibits – an interactive digital version and a custom installation memorializing iconic figures and programs – engage visitors, while bridging the gap between broadcast history and the industry today.
Inspired by a mid-century aesthetic, NAB’s office nods to the heyday of broadcast by blending dark walnut woods and a rich color palette with a clever use of materials and finishes. Custom millwork aids in representing radio including a series of sculptural sound waves hanging along the café ceiling and antique radio-inspired panels wrapping the conference rooms, dubbed “Broadcast Boxes”. Phone booths feature vintage-style on-air lights that activate when occupied. From microphone mesh wrapped columns and hounds-tooth carpet inspired by vintage men’s suits, to wall-mounted test screen patterns and floor level graphics reminiscent of broadcast countdowns, each detail helps anchor the whimsical yet sophisticated concept further.
Today, NAB employees are united across a collaborative and forward-focused workplace environment designed to support them for the next thirty years. Through contemporary office strategies, branded graphics and exhibits, and integrated technology their new headquarters brings NAB’s mission to the forefront, memorializing the industry’s history and paying tribute to the broadcast community as it looks towards a bright future.
Design: Hickok Cole
Contractor: DAVIS Construction
Photography: Garrett Rowland
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