VMA was presented the Adolf Loos Staatspreis Gold Award 2002; Eyes and Ears Europe Gold Award 2002; and PROMAX Europe Silver Award 2003 for the ORF Newsroom Studio Architecture.
In May 2002 ORF unveiled the comprehensive redesign of their news/information programs. Building upon the corporate design package of Nevile Brody in 1993 a new building was constructed to incorporate the entire news production including office and conference space for the entire news team, on-air and editing suites and a new studio space. The Newsroom startet on-air on May 2, 2002 with 7 daily news programs (approx. 2 millions daily viewers) and 3 pre-recorded information programs per week. 4 further live magazines of 50 minutes per week started in October 2002. The briefing was based on the implementation of fully automative studio sets with pre-set positions and lighting atmospheres increasing efficiency and providing a possibility of 24-hour news programming with minimal costs.
The 356m2 studio (5,15m height) is based upon a circular 360 degree architecture utilizing 4 studio cameras to flow freely through the studio space highlighting a flexible adaptation to the individual necessities of the various news programs/formats. The studio plan focusses upon the central element – the ‚newsdesk‘ – which is rotating to 5 different positions throughout the daily on-air cycle. Translucent sliding walls play an active role in the framing and masking of individual ’sets’ and providing a soft transition between the moderator and the background layer. Computerized lighting systems are implemented in backlighting a series of rotating walls and accentuating various surfaces ranging from translucent plexiglass to large format printed textile satellite images. The secondary areas located adjacent to the central ‚newsdesk‘ add flexible spaces for weather reports (bluebox), studio discussions, promotion spots, breaking news reports, and smaller format news coverage and 5 weekly news magazine programs. Flatscreen monitors used for live correspondent reports and graphic information are mounted on tracks revolving around the studio to further enhance the studio flexiblility.

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