Corporate Headquarters
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Discovery Communications Headquarters
Silver Spring , MD
Completion: Autumn 2003
Size: 550,000 square feet

Architect: SmithGroup (base building), Gensler (facilities planning and interiors)

Multimedia: Shen Milson & Wilke, Washington, DC

Discovery Communications, Inc., is a leading media and entertainment company operating in more than 155 countries and territories with over 935 million subscribers. In addition to the Discovery Channel, networks include TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, and The Health Network.

Previously spread across in five different buildings, the organization’s new headquarters consolidates 1,500 employees in a landmark structure. The flexible new space is designed to accommodate change and growth and incorporate the latest multimedia and information technology.

As Discovery’s business expanded, the ability to review content in various forms and with multiple internal groups became critical to the company’s leadership. The new boardroom evolved during the design stage from a traditional model to a highly flexible multimedia preview room that allows video, audio, and image review on three plasma displays. A sophosticated control space allows a technician to search, retrieve, and display a wide variety of images from various sources.

Shen Milson & Wilke designed the room to support the multiple plasma screens, state-of-the-art audio and lighting, and, due to the company’s international presence, quality video conferencing.

Other spaces in the building include multiple conference and training rooms, each with full multimedia capability and touch-panel controls.

The facility also includes a fully outfitted high-definition screening theater with a high-definition cinema video projector and surround-sound audio system. The theater also serves as a source location for the other meeting and conference spaces on the first level, which are used as overflow during large events. The theater compliments the American Film Institute facility across the street; Discovery and AFI produce events using both facilities.

The entry lobby includes a large, high-definition video wall that shows continual broadcasts of Discovery programming.

Photo by Michelle Litvin










Photo by Michelle Litvin

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