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| Studio E || Television || [[BBC News]] || [[BBC News at One]] from mid-March 2013 <br /> [[BBC News at Six]] from mid-March 2013 <br /> [[BBC News at Ten]] from mid-March 2013 <br /> [[BBC News (TV channel)|BBC News channel]], including [[BBC News at Five]] from mid-March 2013
| Studio E || Television || [[BBC News]] || [[BBC News at One]] from mid-March 2013 <br /> [[BBC News at Six]] from mid-March 2013 <br /> [[BBC News at Ten]] from mid-March 2013 <br /> [[BBC News (TV channel)|BBC News channel]], including [[BBC News at Five]] from mid-March 2013
|-
|-
| Studio F || Television || [[BBC Weather]] || [[BBC One]] bulletins and [[BBC News (TV channel)|BBC News channel]] from mid-March 2013
| Studio F || Television || [[BBC News]] || [[60 Seconds]] bulletins on [[BBC Three]] from mid-March 2013
|-
|-
| Studio G || Television || [[BBC Weather]] ||
| Studio G || Television || [[BBC Weather]] ||

Revision as of 18:27, 17 February 2013

For other uses, see Broadcasting House (disambiguation).
Broadcasting House
Broadcasting House and the new East wing
Broadcasting House is located in Greater London
Broadcasting House
Location within Greater London
Alternative namesBH, BBC Broadcasting House
General information
Architectural styleArt Deco
LocationLondon
CountryUnited Kingdom
Current tenantsBBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 Extra
BBC World Service
BBC World News
BBC Vision
Construction started21 November 1928
Inaugurated14 May 1932
OwnerBBC
Height34 m (112 ft)
Technical details
Floor count9 above ground, 3 below ground
Design and construction
Architect(s)George Val Myer, Raymond McGrath
Civil engineerMarmaduke T Tudsbery

Broadcasting House is the headquarters and registered office of the BBC in Portland Place and Langham Place, London.

The building includes the BBC Radio Theatre, from where music and speech programmes are recorded in front of a studio audience. The radio stations BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, and BBC Radio 4 Extra are also broadcast from studios within the building.

As part of a long-term consolidation of the BBC's property portfolio, additional services including BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Radio 6 Music and the BBC World Service will move into Broadcasting House following an extensive renovation of the building. The move also includes that of BBC News and BBC World News from Television Centre into a newly constructed newsroom.

Construction

Ariel between Wisdom and Gaiety by Eric Gill

Construction of Broadcasting House began in 1932, and the building opened to the BBC's offices and radio operations on 14 May 1934, eight years after the corporation's establishment. George Val Myer designed the building in collaboration with the BBC's civil engineer, M T Tudsbery. The original interiors were the work of Raymond McGrath, an Australian-Irish architect. He directed a team which included Serge Chermayeff and Wells Coates and designed the vaudeville studio, the associated green and dressing rooms, and the dance and chamber music studios in a flowing Art Deco style. It was later said of his efforts that "the designs for the BBC gave the first real fillip to industrial design in England".[citation needed]

The radio studios were arranged in a central location and constructed of Portland stone. The remainder of the building was steel framed and faced with Portland stone on the outside. These areas housed the offices, so that they could be both away from the noise of the radio operations, and have access to daylight.[1] Objections by local residents also caused the structure to be changed. The east side of the building blocked out the light to local residents, and after complaints and seeking the right of ancient lights, the building was altered so that the east side of the building had a sloped roof. Underground structures, including hundred year old sewers, presented problems during construction. The building was built atop the Bakerloo line of the London Underground, while the Victoria line was in turn tunnelled beneath Broadcasting House in the 1960s, and has since presented problems for construction of the Egton Wing (see below).[2] Noise from passing trains is audible within the radio theatre, but generally imperceptible in recordings.

Prospero and Ariel by Eric Gill

The ground floor of the building was fitted with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the street, as it was believed that to finance such a project (costing £25,000,000 in today's money) they would need to let the ground floor as a retail unit. The rapid expansion of the BBC meant this never occurred.

The original building also showcases a number of works of art, most prominently the statues of Prospero and Ariel (from Shakespeare's The Tempest) by Eric Gill. Their choice was fitting since Prospero was a magician and scholar, and Ariel, a spirit of the air, in which radio waves travel. There was, reportedly, controversy over some features of the statues when first built and they were said to have been subsequently modified. They were reported to have been sculpted by Gill as God and Man, rather than simply Prospero and Ariel, and that there is a small carved picture of a beautiful girl on the back of the statue of Prospero. Additional carvings of Ariel can be found on the building's exterior in many bas-reliefs, some by Gill, others by Gilbert Bayes.[3][4][5] The reception area also contains a statue of 'The sower' also by Gill.

The original structure is now a Grade II* listed building, and the BBC works with English Heritage on its maintenance.

Renovation

Broadcasting House is currently undergoing a major renovation, aiming to restore the original building and combine a number of the BBC's operations in a newly built extension. Upon completion, the building will house the television and radio operations of BBC News, which would relocate from Television Centre by the end of July 2012; the BBC World Service, relocating from Bush House (relocated 12 July 2012),[6] and BBC Radio, with the exception of BBC Radio 5 Live and its sister station 5 Live Sports Extra, which moved to Salford.

To make way for the renovation, BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music moved from Broadcasting House to newly built studios in the nearby Western House,[7] however it has not been confirmed if they will move back to Broadcasting House in the near future.

The building work was completed in two phases. It began with the demolition of two post-war extensions to the building.

First phase

Refurbished reception in Broadcasting House

The first phase consisted of the restoration of the original building, by now starting to show its age and needing structural repair, and the building of a new wing to the east of the original structure.[8]

In the old building, the sloped east roof was taken off, and many of the rooms stripped back to their walls, although much of the Art Deco architecture was retained and preserved. Much of the work focused on the lower walls and ceilings which did not include Art Deco features. The reception area was renovated to include a new desk, while retaining the message and statue as the attention piece of the room. Many rooms had ceilings removed, such as the south tower, and new reinforcement joists were added.

The new Egton wing was roughly the same shape as the main Broadcasting House building, featuring a modern design and window arrangement, but retaining some features such as the Portland stone used for the building. Towards the rear of the building, a large block was created in the side, mirroring that created in the main building, when the sloping roof was removed.

The design of the new extension, intended to equal in "architectural creativity" that already on site was carried out by MacCormac Jamieson Prichard. Construction was completed in 2005 and the newly refurbished Broadcasting House, and the newly completed Egton wing were opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 April 2006 as part of her 80th birthday celebrations.[9] All areas of the Egton Wing were fully fitted out and completed by 2007.

Controversy: The "John Peel Wing"

In 2012, the newly constructed wing, known as the "Egton Wing" (after the previous building on the site) was renamed the "John Peel Wing", in memory of the late Radio 1 DJ of that name. The decision was announced by the then Director-General Mark Thompson to commemorate what he described as a "great radio talent".[10] The new wing, said Thompson, was a "fitting tribute to a man who personified so much of what the BBC stands for". Subsequently it emerged that the BBC was to reconsider its decision following claims that John Peel, who had boasted on-air of having had venereal disease,[11] had committed a sexual offence by having unprotected intercourse with a 15-year-old schoolgirl in 1969, making her pregnant. A BBC spokesman said "Clearly, in the event of proven allegations of sexual abuse, the BBC would reconsider its decision on the naming of part of our new building."[12]

Second phase

The John Peel Wing, built on the site of Egton House

The second phase of the project was the creation of a large wing to the rear of the building, joining the two buildings, and creating a plaza between them. It is this extension that will contain the BBC News and Journalism departments. The new building will contain state-of-the-art technical equipment and new studios to house the BBC News bulletins on television, the BBC News Channel as well as BBC World News, the BBC Arabic Television service and the BBC Persian Television service. At the heart of this is a new newsroom, the largest live newsroom in the world.[9]

A walkway above the newsroom would also allow the public to view the work of journalists, while connecting the foyer to the Radio Theatre and a new café for staff and the public. This, complemented by the outdoor plaza, which could act as an outdoor arena and theatre, is designed to engage the public with the television and radio making process.[9]

The construction work was completed by Bovis Lend Lease.[13]

The original architects were sacked and replaced by the BBC for not agreeing to cost-related revisions as Sir Richard MacCormac was unwilling to sacrifice the quality of his design.[14] While the rebuilding process was under way, many of the BBC Radio stations moved to other buildings near Portland Place. The extension is glass covered in the plaza area and curved to contrast both wings either side and to continue the glass found on both sides high up the building. On the Portland Place side, it continues the same use of Portland stone and glass seen in Egton wing. Construction was completed in 2010, with control handed over to the BBC in 2011. The building is now being fitted out with technical equipment.

Studios

When first built, Broadcasting House contained twenty two radio studios[15][16] all the programme genres and all designed in the art-deco style with a dual emphasis on both looks and practicality. The overall practicality to the studios changed rapidly due to limitations of the time and also due to the changing nature of broadcasting and the uses of the studios. These studios were:

Number Name Designer Designed use
8A Military Band studio Serge Chermayeff Designed for large band and vaudeville performances.[17]
8B Small Debates studio Serge Chermayeff A small informally designed studio to encourage lively and confident debate.[18]
7A Production studio Wells Coates Acoustically dead studio, used for one section of a drama.[19]
7B Production studio Wells Coates Used for speech in a play or drama or for piano performances.[19]
7C Production studio Wells Coates Acoustically dead small drama studio.[19]
7D Effects studio Wells Coates Small effects studio for producing foley.[19]
7E Gramophone Effects studio Wells Coates Small studio for producing effects from or involving gramophones.[19]
6A Production studio Wells Coates Double height, large production studio for use in Drama productions.[20]
6B Production studio Wells Coates Small drama studio.[20]
6C Production studio Wells Coates Acoustically dead small drama studio.[20]
6D Effects studio Wells Coates Main effects studio for the production of foley. It was equipped with different floor coverings and coverings on the main table to achieve different effects and contained various items including a wind machine and a water tank.[21]
6E Gramophone Effects studio Wells Coates Small studio for producing effects from or involving gramophones.[22]
4A News studio Wells Coates Acoustically dead small studio for reading news bulletins. Contained gramophone records to be played out in case of an interruption.[23]
4B News studio Wells Coates Acoustically dead small news studio with record players.[23]
3A Production studio Serge Chermayeff A double height large studio used for Children's Hour and used for chamber music recitals and by the BBC Dance Orchestra.[24]
3B Talks studio Serge Chermayeff A small talks studio for unrehearsed debates.[24]
3C Talks studio Serge Chermayeff An acoustically dead small talks studio for unrehearsed debates.[24]
3D Library Talks studio Dorothy Warren Trotter A small talks studio for speeches and debates. It was decorated in the style of a personal library or study for the benefit of elderly or lordly speakers.[25]
3E Religious studio Edward Maufe A double height large studio with a balcony that was designed for religious broadcasts. The studio was specifically designed with a focus on all religions so that any religious member would feel comfortable. The studio was soon disused as listeners preferred the sound of a real church and congregation.[26]
The concert hall Val Myer A very large double height concert hall for use by orchestras in playing classical music.[27] The hall contains a large space for the orchestra as well as a large section and a balcony for seating. The first organ suitable for broadcasting was installed in the studio. It was renamed the Radio Theatre in 1994.[16]
BA Vaudeville studio Raymond McGrath A double height studio with balcony for theatre and variety performances. An audience of 60 could be present for performances.[28]
BB Dance band studio Raymond McGrath A double height studio with a small balcony for an audience for use by the BBC Dance Orchestra. It was taken over for experimental television broadcasts on 22 August 1932.[29]

Following the rebuild and refurbishment of Broadcasting House, several new studios have been added and the studio structure itself has changed dramatically. The current studios are:

Studio Medium User(s) Programme(s)
30A Radio BBC Radio 3
30B Radio BBC Radio 3
30C Radio BBC Radio 3
30D Radio BBC Radio 3
40A Radio BBC Radio 4 Long Wave continuity studio, Yesterday in Parliament, the Daily Service, Test Match Special and the Shipping Forecast.[30]
40B Radio BBC Radio 4 Continuity studio for BBC Radio 4
60A Radio BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 4 Extra, BBC World Service Radio Drama
62A Radio BBC World Service Focus of Africa
82A Radio BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1Xtra & BBC Asian Network (also used for mixing live performances - adjacent to the Live Lounge)
82B Radio BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1Xtra & BBC Asian Network
82C Radio BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1Xtra & BBC Asian Network
82D Radio BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1Xtra & BBC Asian Network (adjacent to the Live Lounge)
82E Radio BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1Xtra & BBC Asian Network
82F Radio BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1Xtra & BBC Asian Network
82G Radio Newsbeat Used for 15-minute Newsbeat bulletins on BBC Radio 1 & BBC Radio 1Xtra
82H Radio Newsbeat Used for the short hourly Newsbeat bulletins on BBC Radio 1 & BBC Radio 1Xtra
83A Radio BBC Asian Network News studio
S31 Radio BBC World Service & BBC Radio 4
S32 Radio BBC World Service & BBC Radio 4 Newsday
World Update
The World at One
PM
S33 Radio BBC Radio 4 Today
The World Tonight
S34 Radio BBC World Service World Briefing
SL1 Radio BBC World Service & BBC Radio 4 World Briefing
Six O'Clock News
Midnight News
Studio G4D Television BBC News / BBC One BBC London News [Move Date TBC]
The One Show from August 2013
Studio 34D Television BBC World Service BBC Arabic Television
Studio 44D Television BBC World Service BBC Arabic Television
Studio 54D Television BBC World Service BBC Persian Television
Studio A Television Multipurpose
(Green Screen Virtual Studio)		 Hardtalk
Newswatch
Studio B Television Multipurpose The Andrew Marr Show
Sunday Politics
BBC Newsnight
BBC World News (12.00-6.30pm, weekdays), including GMT, Impact, Global, World Have Your Say, Focus On Africa
Studio C Television BBC World News BBC World News
World Business Report
Newsday
World News Today
Business Edition
BBC News channel overnight service from January 26
Studio D Television BBC London BBC London News [Move Date TBC]
Studio E Television BBC News BBC News at One from mid-March 2013
BBC News at Six from mid-March 2013
BBC News at Ten from mid-March 2013
BBC News channel, including BBC News at Five from mid-March 2013
Studio F Television BBC News 60 Seconds bulletins on BBC Three from mid-March 2013
Studio G Television BBC Weather
Studio H Television BBC Weather
Studio J Television BBC Weather
Newsroom Television Multipurpose Reporters (BBC News programme)
BBC Click
BBC News
BBC World News

Until programmes air information is subject to change.

Journalists' Memorial

Main article: Breathing (memorial sculpture)

Atop the roof of the new Egton wing of Broadcasting House, mirroring the radio mast, is a cone-shaped glass structure, reaching into the sky at the same height as the radio mast opposite. It was sculpted by Jaume Plensa and is a memorial to all of the BBC journalists killed in the line of duty. Called Breathing, it includes words from a poem by James Fenton and is illuminated day and night. At 10pm daily, in line with the BBC News at Ten, a column of light shines 900 metres into the sky. It was officially unveiled on the 16 June 2008 by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.[31][32]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Broadcasting House, London.

References

  1. ^ "The Past". BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  2. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/bh_development.shtml
  3. ^ "BBC - Press Office - Broadcasting House, London". Retrieved 10 April 2007.
  4. ^ "Exterior Sculptures - Broadcasting House in 1932". Retrieved 10 April 2007.[dead link]
  5. ^ "BBC - Radio 4 - Archive Hour - The Home of Radio". Retrieved 10 April 2007.
  6. ^ "BBC World Service leaves Bush House". BBC News. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Western House - The new studios". BBC Radio 2. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
  8. ^ "The story of Broadcasting House". BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  9. ^ a b c "The Present". BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  10. ^ "BBC to name wing of new Broadcasting House after John Peel" (Press release). BBC. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  11. ^ "John Peel biography". BBC. 2005.}}
  12. ^ Eccles, Louise; Ward, Alex (13 October 2012). "BBC to consider renaming Peel Wing at headquarters after claims DJ had affair with schoolgirl, 15". Daily Mail. London. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  13. ^ "Bovis to revamp BBC headquarters". The Daily Telegraph. London. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  14. ^ Barnett, Antony (14 November 2005). "BBC in political row after sacking leading architect". The Observer. London. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  15. ^ "Broadcasting House, London". Key Facts. BBC Press Office. 2004. Retrieved 18 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  16. ^ a b Hines, Mark (2008). The Story of Broadcasting House, Home of the BBC (First ed.). London: Merrell. p. 51. ISBN 9781858944210. Cite error: The named reference "Story of BH" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  17. ^ "Eight Floor - Studio 8A". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcsting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  18. ^ "Eight floor - 8B and Drama Control". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  19. ^ a b c d e "Seventh floor - 7B and Music control". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  20. ^ a b c "Sixth floor". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  21. ^ "Sixth floor - Effects studio". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  22. ^ "Sixth floor - Effects studio". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  23. ^ a b "Fourth floor - 4A, 4B and office". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  24. ^ a b c "Third floor - 3A and 3B". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  25. ^ "Third floor - Studio 3D". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  26. ^ "Third floor - Studio 3E". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  27. ^ "Lower Ground floor - Concert Hall". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  28. ^ "Sub-Basement - Studio BA". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  29. ^ "Sub-Basement - Studio BB". Broadcasting House 1932. Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories (ORBEM). Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  30. ^ "Priming the pips in studio 40B". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  31. ^ "Killed reporters' memorial opens". BBC News. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  32. ^ "Editorial: In praise of... the Breathing light sculpture". The Guardian. London. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2010.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Broadcasting_House&oldid=538749887"