Curious about what keeps NPR ticking on the West Coast? NPR West in Culver City California is not just another office. It is a crucial hub for news and programming. Established in November 2002 NPR West was born from a pressing need. NPR needed a backup facility after the September 11th attacks.
Imagine the chaos of that day. The team at NPR realized their Washington D.C. headquarters was vulnerable. A second production facility was essential. NPR West became that safety net. It ensured NPR could stay on the air no matter what.
NPR West cost nearly 13 million dollars to create. It occupies 25000 square feet. This Culver City location can house up to 90 employees. It boosted NPR’s production capabilities significantly. It also improved coverage of the Western United States.
But NPR West is more than just a disaster recovery site. It is a vibrant production center in its own right. The facility generates original West Coast programming. In the early days shows like “The Tavis Smiley Show” were produced here. Jon Schwartz NPR board chairman saw California as the future. NPR West helped NPR embrace that future.
The building itself has a unique history. Desilu Productions once used it for prop storage. Desilu created iconic shows like “Star Trek” and “Mission Impossible”. Later a furniture manufacturer occupied the space. Before NPR Digital Planet a web content company called it home. NPR West gives the building a new chapter.
In its early days NPR West used Klotz audio production technology. Shawn Fox senior director of audio engineering at NPR said Klotz provided flexibility. However technology evolves. In 2013 NPR West underwent a complete rebuild. NPR chose Lawo equipment for its digital audio network.
The Lawo system ensured consistency across NPR facilities. Content producers could move between Washington and Los Angeles easily. They would not need to learn new systems. Disaster recovery remained a top priority. The updated system included a fully redundant Lawo Nova 73 router. Herbert Lemcke president of Lawo North America explained its reliability. Every audio path is redundant. There is no single point of failure.
NPR West features several large talk studios and control rooms. Smaller studios support various production functions. The MOPS area monitors all plant operations. The MOPS area mirrors the functionality of the Washington D.C. facility. This ensures seamless co-productions and remote broadcasts.
Interestingly NPR West has a satellite uplink dish on its roof. This provides another layer of disaster recovery. If Washington D.C. is unreachable Culver City can uplink programming. NPR West tests this uplink monthly. They ensure it is always ready.
NPR values its relationship with Culver City. NPR likes to say that they broadcast “from Culver City” on “Morning Edition”. NPR West significantly exceeds the city’s expectations. NPR West is more than just a location. It is a vital part of NPR’s mission. It ensures news and stories reach you no matter what.
NPR is a nearly ubiquitous programming source for public radio stations around the United States and the most well-known. Its systems are designed and built with an overarching plan using state-of-the-art technology. NPR West stands as a testament to innovation and resilience in broadcasting.