How about stepping into a place where media innovation meets architectural beauty? That’s Wallis Annenberg Hall at the University of Southern California. This isn’t just another building. It’s a hub for media education, communication, and production.
Wallis Annenberg Hall embodies collaboration. Dean Ernest Wilson envisioned it as a space where students and faculty could connect. It is part of a larger effort to modernize the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Wallis Annenberg Hall opened in September 2014. USC Annenberg had grown significantly. They needed expanded facilities to accommodate the increasing number of students.
The university enlisted DEGW. This international space planning company conducted workshops with faculty, staff, and students. Innovation, versatility, collaboration, and transparency became the guiding principles. Harley Ellis Devereaux, the architectural firm, used these principles in their design.
Externally, Wallis Annenberg Hall maintains USC’s traditional style. But the interior is distinctly modern. The building spans approximately 88000 square feet over five stories.
The Forum is at the heart of Wallis Annenberg Hall. This ground-level public space encourages conversations. Expert scholars, industry leaders, and cultural icons often gather here. Above the Forum rises a four-story atrium. A rooftop skylight illuminates the space. A multi-story digital media wall displays social media feeds, live news, and student programming.
Adjacent to the Forum is the Media Center. It is the 20000-square-foot heart of Wallis Annenberg Hall. Students gain practical experience here. They cover breaking news, create impactful journalism, produce podcasts, and analyze audience data.
The Jacki and Gilbert Cisneros Assignment Desk is the Media Center’s focal point. Editors monitor various sources to produce the day’s news. State-of-the-art television, radio, and web studios are available. Professional-quality control rooms and editing bays complete the space.
Wallis Annenberg Hall also features faculty offices. A 148-seat auditorium hosts events. Collaborative spaces and technologically advanced classrooms are scattered throughout. You will also find the Marilou and Mark Hamill Family Office of the Dean here. The Sheindlin Forum and the Digital Lounge offer technology training.
Need a caffeine fix? Caf Annenberg has Illy coffee and food. It is a perfect spot to study or relax.
Wallis Annenberg’s gift made this all possible. She continued her father Walter Annenberg’s legacy. The Annenberg Foundation contributed significantly to the project. The building’s design eliminates barriers between media platforms. It allows students to create content for broadcast, print, and online formats.
The Los Angeles Times highlighted Wallis Annenberg Hall. The building’s Collegiate Gothic style is reminiscent of classic USC architecture. The new hall embraces elements from Mudd Hall of Philosophy and the Student Union Building.
So, as you explore Wallis Annenberg Hall, remember its purpose. It’s a place where the future of media is being shaped. It is a space designed to foster collaboration and spark innovation. It’s more than just a building. It’s a launchpad for the next generation of media professionals.