Evening star., 1928-01-22
NEW WRC STUDIOS
FINELY DECORATED
Plant in Press Building Is
Placed Far Above Street
and Free From Noise.

The new Washington Studios Of the
National BroadcaSting Co, which will
furnish programs to the Radio Corpora.
tion of Americas s Station WRC and tho
Red and Blue Networks. were opened
last week, The studios are located ii
the National Press Building.
The decorations and furnishings are
creations of Gerard Chatfield, the pro-
gram supervisor Of the n. 3. c.. The en-
s;neering features and the planning OF
the studies were the work OF o. B. Han
son, manager of plant operation and en-
cineering Of the n B. c.. who also enei'
neered the new headquarters. studios
and plant Of the r. c. at I'll Fhtf
avenue. New York City.
The Washington Offices OF the Ma
tional BroadcaSting Co. as we'll as The
studios are situated on the twelfth
floor in the south section OF the build
Ing. facing an immense court in the
center of the structure. having the
width Of A large throughfare, This Sec
ton of the building vas chosen as the
bes; location for the studios as 1t placed
them far above and free from the noise
OF the busy city street, insuring quiet
for the artists and enabling them to
concentrate on the work at hand.
The entrance to these quarters opens
into a reception room OF ample proper
tons. finely decorated and comfortaoiy
furnished. and in which the period OF
Charles II is emphasized creating an
atmosphere OF simple grandeur. The
floor is richly carpeted in solid deep
vine color. with window drapcs anc
door portieres of lighter tone OF the
game color, The walls are textured with
glazed tints to effect complete and
~ ef1SeY,hle
Art Objects in Rooms.
The lights are subdued and art OBJ
iecis are placed aGvantageouSly ABOUT
the room. OF the reception room is a
small ladies lounge furnished in
French provincial style and painted
pastel shade of green. with decora-
tons In Complementary contrast the
walls are finished in shade OF pale
orchid.
In order that those in the reception
room may listen 10 the programs which
are being broadcast. reproducer OF
exceptionally high quality has been in
stalled To the west OF the reception
room are the Offices of the program and
commercial organizations and the once
OF the manager. To the east corrioor
leads to the two studies and main con-
troll room
The corridor isS>lf has been made in
trrestinc as its ceilings and walls have
BEEN acous.ically and colorfully treated.
the acousssc treatment; eliminating thai
resonant and ringing sound usually as
sociate0 with long corridors. Hung upon
the walls are photos OF artists made
famous through radio as well as re-
productions OF n 3 c. studios and
stations III other cities.
The studso nearest 10 the reception
room. known as the gold room. is the
smaller of the two studio dimensions.
approximately 2oX20 feet. primarily de-
signed for the single performer or
speaker. although small groups such as
string trios or Quartets could be broad
cast from this room satisfactorily. The
foor OF this room Is covered with two
tone cork tile In the form Of checker
board. and sparsely spread with small
rugs The object is 20 keep the floor
acoasticaily alive. but at the same time
cuiet when walked upon The rugs fur
nish scoustical damping which can be
properly placed by the engineer TO suit
conditions The ceiling is treated with
special accust;cai plaster resembling
biock coral and the walls are treated
with panels Of csna fib~r board. TO In
sure good seousrics. e.
Gold -Coiored Drapes.
The tenn gold room" Is applied be-
cause of the gold -colored velour drapeS
predominant in tns room On the east
ern wall is sound proof observation
window which enables ;he engineer SIT
ting In TIE control room TO follow the
proceedings in the studio These win
60xg have three thicknesses OF piate-
glass floating in heavy felt frames sepa-
rated bv ar inci1 or 50 TO insure win
cow free for vision. but offering greater
resistance To the transmission Of sound
II In perhaps worth mentioning that
each glass panel Is of different thick
ness than the adjacent panel This fur
fi1er aids In souncproofng
The studio supervisor and engineer
eYe thus able 10 listen 10 the program
through the medium Of loud speaker
in the control room. just az II lis
heard on the air. free from the orig
tnai production In the studio which
might otherwise bias their judgment.
Al the far end Of the corridor Is
the green room. the larger studio.
The din. srsicns OF this room are ap-
proximateiy 20 feet by 81 feet with an
ls-fooi ceiling. and as In the case OF
the gold room the engineers have
Here the ceiling and walls
are finished in tf1e specis! acoustic
plaster resembling coral. full ci minute
holes which have been produced by a
c neniscsi process forming gas which
In turn produces the Dorostty.
II Is In tnege small openings that
the energy In the sfund wave hitting
the Wal Is expended reducing the
intensity o. the reflected SOUND. Prob
sh;v the amount of SOUND absorption
Soe2 not exceed 20 pr cent. as II
Is no: oesifa be 10 have tn" room tho
dead in order ~ vary this acoistj-
cal condition. green velour 0rap2s l1are
been hung upon continuous uacE a.on2
the wall Of course the green In no
wzy affects the acoustics a. far IS is
known bit il certainly enhances the
beauty of the room. As in the other
room. this slsz6,0 mas 3 polished cork
tile floor s,rewn witn small rugs 10
permit adjustment IL the acoustic
condition.
Decorations Are Handsome.
OUTSIDE of the engineering features,
the decorations are handsome. the walls
and ceiling being D0tt!ec with gosc ana
green tinn anc hung with rien green
yeis,sgr drapes ss Sge tne four amber
iesde6 glass easement Ntndobs WHICH
IeYa6 O soft warm lighs " the room.
Two Interesting Dfoesdes nana al 40
.ants aeous lccats0ns upon tne "sh'
JfexeYef these must really be ssfn 10
h. appreciated ,..,.. g..
The main con,fo! room Is ocatfd Or"
sxeey, the TWO sti1GbJh, permitting me
engineers 70 nsYe full Tiew oi b2lt'
s,n6i,,s from faf 1ontfo3 roaro, through
windows nuFHfkGHEE
t,rey,oslfjy. one 3n eac1 studio. Imfns-
rlasely in front - these Winho~s, on
"a. rorff0l rom SIDE. are bestfd tDe
individual s,u6jo oyntyoi apparatus
vjtefe the control ngsD sits spG @aiGh@k
ihe production arc b!s intifDm@n's
with equal facility WIN fafn ~ o.
control a,1psFstlS js . loud st eskeF oi
latest cesi2is. WHICH enables MIN "
I,ssfn tf tfle results he Il Obtaining IN
.,r<tr " secure tae best listening conoi-
,,oyls she room Is also sconsilcaiiy