Like so many of you, the KQED staff have been working in isolated conditions for almost a year now. As we all start to look forward to this extraordinary time in our lives coming to a close, KQED has the added excitement of not only returning to work in person, but also returning to our fully renovated headquarters, the final part of Campaign 21. In anticipation of our next chapter, we asked six staff members what they were most looking forward to about our future home.
In the new Mariposa studios, our IT and facilities and design teams worked hand in hand with the newsroom to envision how the studios and audio production spaces could be best designed for our production needs in the future. One of the key designs was to re-envision some of the recording studios to make them feel less like stuffy studios and more like "spaces" where multiple people can work together to collaborate and record audio. The idea was centered on multiple voices recording podcasts or interviews, but the ideas and concepts can be extended to a lot of the audio work we do. I can't wait to see how our audio production teams work in these spaces.
Ethan Lindsey, Executive Editor
Broadcasting in an acoustically perfect booth while being able to see and communicate with my collaborators will be key in improving the quality and performance of newscasts.
Brian Watt, Morning News Anchor
I’m excited for the public to experience KQED events in real life at The Commons. While I’ve been loving how we’ve pivoted to virtual events, I can’t wait to experience a talk or a performance with other people.
Beverly Mislang Associate Director, Annual Giving
It’s exciting to think about the new Mariposa as a place where our entire newsroom can gather. We haven’t come together as one big group since even before COVID sent us into lockdown actually – it’s been since the summer of 2019 when we moved out of old Mariposa. A lot of our work takes shape and happens in our meetings and hallway conversations, so being all together again is going to be a welcome change. A lot of our work depends on collaboration and that depends on being able to see each other and meet up -- as both one big team and also as mini teams. So going back will be like a reunion in a cool new space that will give us room for the reporting, editing, information-gathering, sound recording, and collaboration that helps us produce the stories we do.
Vinnee Tong, Director of News
Visitors to KQED will be greeted by a large media wall located on the first floor lobby. This installation will highlight national and local productions, as well as promote upcoming live events. This will be a key touchpoint for us to showcase the work, and services, we provide to our communities. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to host our very own “TED talk!”
Zaldy Serrano, Creative Director
The new space will make it so much more inviting for the community we serve in the Education Department – teachers and students. We often host trainings and events and it will make such a difference to have a beautiful new space where they feel welcome. The beautiful and transparent front entry space will signal to the public that KQED is for THEM – it is truly a community media organization that welcomes their input and presence.
Annelise Wunderlich, Executive Producer for Education