Television studio BBGM's latest project for Morgan Stanley

Real Estate Weekly, June 6, 2001

Investment banking firm Morgan Stanley selected the New York office of BBGM (Brennan Beer Gorman Monk / Interiors) to collaborate on the design of its new television production facilities at New York City's 2 World Trade Center. The recently completed 8,000 SF space, located on the 44th floor sky lobby of the building, includes two studios, a "green room" for guests, four editing suites, and four two-person offices for production staff.

Morgan Stanley produces its own training and promotional videos, as well as maintaining a global audio communication system. With existing technical facilities in both the World Trade Center and at their offices at 1585 Broadway, the firm wanted to consolidate, expand, and update its production capabilities, as well as move them geographically closer to the existing broker-training center. The new studios, one 20' x 20' and the other 40' x 40', are outfitted with the latest in digital equipment, as are the attendant editing workstations. The new facility enables immediate video communication to all staff via computer monitors, allowing MSDW's executives to anticipate emerging trends.

"Morgan Stanley approached us, based on our strong history with the firm, to help them better integrate their production facility into the overall corporate culture," says Julia Monk, BBGM president. "We have achieved this with a design that emphasizes the growing importance of communications technology to the firm, while complementing the established aesthetic."

Incorporating a high-tech facility within a traditional office floor presented a variety of challenges. Lower floor to floor heights than normally found in a studio had to accommodate the large sets and various camera angles used when filming. A meticulous coordination of all infrastructure elements allowed the design team to maximize limited available height. On-site acoustic testing determined that an adjacent high-volume mailroom and kitchen on the floor below produced problematic levels of impact noise.

The new studios and production area are surrounded with acoustic insulation, unlike a typical office environment that would only have sound protection between walls.

Joining BBGM on this project were The Systems Group, broadcasting consultant; Universe Lighting, lighting consultant; Laszlo Bodak Engineer, PC, MEP consultants; and James E. Fitzgerald Construction, general contractor.

Morgan Stanley's in-house facilities department also took an active role in the design and construction of the studios.