NPR Headquarters Lobby
NPR Headquarters Lobby
NPR Headquarters Lobby network map detail
NPR Headquarters Lobby network map detail
NPR Headquarters stair mural
NPR Headquarters stair mural
After nearly 2 decades based at 635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, in Washington, DC, the award-winning, multimedia news organization NPR relocated its headquarters to 1111 North Capitol Street, NE, in the business improvement district NOMA (North of Massachusetts Avenue). A landmark-status, 4-story 1920’s warehouse was renovated and an adjoining new, 7-story building was developed to create a 440,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, LEED-Gold certified headquarters that accommodates a staff of over 700 that was previously divided into 3 separate locations.

Along with developing a comprehensive environmental graphics, donor recognition and wayfinding sign program for the headquarters and a branding and identity program for the NPR store and staff cafeteria, the designers were also responsible for creating a permanent, interactive lobby exhibition entitled “This is NPR.”

Complementing the adjacent 2-story digital media mosaic which mirrors the NPR website in real-time, Poulin + Morris developed a 70-foot-long, permanent, interactive exhibition entitled “This is NPR” that spans the length of the new building’s lobby. The exhibition consists of a reader rail supporting 2 tiers of angled panels displaying narrative text, images, video monitors, and interactive audio listening devices featuring detailed information about NPR. The rail is divided into 5 sections, each dedicated to a story significant to NPR: History and Mission   provides background information on the organization; Signature Storytelling   features anecdotes about some of NPR’s favorite personalities and programs; Grand Trunk Road   offers stories from a series NPR aired about the historic South Asian road; A Spirit of Innovation   documents NPR’s technological advancements over the years; and A Community of Stations and Listeners   highlights the relationship shared between NPR member stations across the nation and their listeners and includes a striking, member network map (displayed above). Created in a translucent white resin with raised translucent blue rods to pin-point the location of each member station, the map’s placement at a window allows it to glow with natural light. The upper portion of the reader rail features NPR milestones, a continuous timeline highlighting important moments in public radio history juxtaposed alongside significant events in world and radio broadcast history.

The interactive component of the exhibition includes an interface that allows smart phone users to access a specially designed website offering a selection of audio clips to accompany each section of the exhibition. The designers collaborated with a media developer to create this user interface adding an audio element to the exhibition that elaborates on the stories featured on the reader rail and creates an engaging and memorable experience.

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NPR Headquarters “This is NPR”

Exhibition Design
Branding
Digital Media
Environmental Graphics
Print Media

Location

Washington, DC

Client

NPR

Publications and Recognitions

Communication Arts
eg Magazine
Graphic Design USA
Graphis
HOW International Design Annual
Interior Design
Interiors & Sources
Society for Experiential Design (SEGD)

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