PHOTOS: Washington’s Top 小萝莉影视 gets a top-notch new home

Starting in early February, 小萝莉影视's live anchoring will be produced from six microphones like this one in the new Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center. The vast majority of 5425 Wisconsin Ave.'s technology is brand-new, under construction by Minnesota-based broadcast engineering team RadioDNA since late summer of 2018. 小萝莉影视's signal strength won't be impacted by the move, since the station's transmitter will remain at nearby American University. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

It’s the start of a new age for 小萝莉影视, which bid adieu to its old Idaho Avenue location for a shiny, space-age pasture just up the street in Maryland.

It was bittersweet signing off from the old studio for a final time, but 小萝莉影视’s glimmering, state-of-the-art newsroom in Friendship Heights has all the technology and amenities Washington’s Top 小萝莉影视 needs to accommodate an expanding round-the-clock news operation.

If the old building were a corvette, the new one is a battleship: With more than 30,000 square feet of office space, 47 editor’s stations, hundreds of screens and a brand-new Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center (now with more glass), the Wisconsin Avenue building is a beast of a newsroom. It almost feels like something out of “Star Trek.”

The new facility will be the first time in years that 小萝莉影视 and its sister station, Federal 小萝莉影视 Network, have shared the same office space. Call it a family reunion.

At 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, 30 years of memories, journalistic history and free stuff on the magical “Football Table” came to an end at 3400 Idaho Avenue in D.C. 鈥� and it wasn’t exactly a slow news day.

The move came as a result of 小萝莉影视鈥檚 growth over the years, and the new Friendship Heights space allows for all departments to finally live on the same, expansive floor, said聽小萝莉影视 general manager Joel Oxley.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Wisconsin Avenue newsroom in action below.聽Did I mention the electric convertible standing desks?

Welcome to 小萝莉影视’s home on Wisconsin Avenue! The new office space finally allows for all of 小萝莉影视’s departments to coexist on the same floor, and is 8,000 square feet larger than the 30-year-old newsroom at Idaho Avenue. This ring of television screens houses the editor’s desks 鈥� the starship-like command deck of the station’s 24-hour news operation. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

The dawn of a new era for 小萝莉影视 on Feb. 3 鈥� the station’s first morning broadcasting out of the new studio on 5425 Wisconsin Avenue. So far, so good. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

Sunday, Feb. 3 was the Wisconsin Avenue newsroom's first full day in action. After a smooth handoff from the Idaho Avenue office, 小萝莉影视's on-air and web teams were settling in to their new desks. Pictured: Digital writer Jack Moore, hard at work reporting on a controversy enveloping Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — Sunday, Feb. 3 was the Wisconsin Avenue newsroom’s first full day in action. After a smooth handoff from the Idaho Avenue office, 小萝莉影视’s on-air and web teams were settling in to their new desks. Pictured: Digital writer Jack Moore, hard at work reporting on a controversy enveloping Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

Dedicated 小萝莉影视 listeners will likely be familiar with the fabled Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center (GENC), the translucent battleship bridge from which our anchors continuously broadcast the news to millions in the D.C. area. The brand-new GENC at 5425 Wisconsin Ave. comes with more space, additional anchor positions, a private coffee machine, and, perhaps most fittingly: More glass. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez

Bruce Alan and Joan Jones 鈥� the voices of 小萝莉影视 during morning rush hour 鈥� conduct an off-air practice run from the new main studio. While 小萝莉影视’s broadcast format remains the same despite the move, the new studio debuts state-of-the-art software and equipment, assembled and tested over the course of months to ensure a seamless transition from the old building. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

Morning anchors Joan Jones and Bruce Alan go through a dry run of a standard news broadcast using the Glass Enclosed Nerve Center's new equipment. 小萝莉影视's news and advertising management softwares also saw upgrades, and audio engineers trained anchors how to use the new technology in the days leading up to the move. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — Morning anchors Joan Jones and Bruce Alan go through a dry run of a standard news broadcast using the Glass Enclosed Nerve Center’s new equipment. 小萝莉影视’s news and advertising management software also saw upgrades, and audio engineers trained anchors on how to use the new technology. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

From now on, 小萝莉影视’s live anchoring will be produced from six microphones like this one in the new studio. The vast majority of 5425 Wisconsin Ave.’s technology is brand-new, much of it built by Minnesota-based broadcast engineering team RadioDNA since mid-2018. 小萝莉影视’s signal strength won’t be impacted by the move, since the station’s transmitter will stay put at American University. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez

小萝莉影视’s Madeleine Simon at the assignment editor’s station. Just like the old office, the radio, assignment and digital editors sit side-by-side to allow for easy communication between 小萝莉影视’s different departments. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

小萝莉影视’s Rob Woodfork and Rick Massimo get to work on their new desks and computers Sunday afternoon. (小萝莉影视/Sarah Beth Hensley)

A panoramic view of editing stations in the middle of the 小萝莉影视 newsroom. (小萝莉影视/Sarah Beth Hensley) — A panoramic view of editing stations in the heart of the 小萝莉影视 newsroom. (小萝莉影视/Sarah Beth Hensley)

WTOP's new digital reporting and web development sections feature 24 work stations, all fitted with virtual mixers and microphones 鈥� a space age upgrade for the D.C. region's largest all-news format radio oulet. The new office space finally allows for all of 小萝莉影视's departments to coexist on the same floor, and is 8,000 square feet larger than the 30-year-old newsroom at Idaho Avenue.(小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — 小萝莉影视’s new digital reporting and web development sections feature 24 work stations, all fitted with virtual mixers and microphones 鈥� a Space Age upgrade for the D.C. region’s largest all-news format radio outlet. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

WTOP's new office space, shared with sister station Federal 小萝莉影视 Radio, is just under 31,000 square feet in an eight-story building just a short walk from the Friendship Heights Metro station in Maryland. The extra space allows for a whole array of new technology, including recording equipment at every station and larger screens for the digital team (pictured). Most work stations also have the ability to convert into standing desks with the push of a button. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — The extra space allows for a whole array of new technology, including recording equipment at every station and larger screens for the digital team. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

The sales team has a comfortable new seating area. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

Anchor Joan Jones tests 小萝莉影视's new ad management and audio playback software during an off-air practice run on Jan. 29. While the majority of 小萝莉影视's broadcast is recorded live in-house, pre-recorded reporter stories, segment transitions and ads are played back by anchors using the main studio's mixing board. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — Anchor Joan Jones tests 小萝莉影视’s new ad management and audio playback software during an off-air practice run on Jan. 29. While the majority of 小萝莉影视’s broadcast is recorded live in-house, prerecorded reporter stories, segment transitions and ads are run by anchors using the main studio’s mixing board. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

WTOP anchor Bruce Alan mans the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center's new mixing board, which controls audio levels and can feed listener calls into the broadcast. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — 小萝莉影视 anchor Bruce Alan mans the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center’s new mixing board, which controls audio levels and can feed listener calls into the broadcast.聽With this audio mixer, an anchor can also bring in live audio from any of the 47 editing stations throughout the new office, or prerecorded news reports from 小萝莉影视’s affiliates. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

A close-up view of the main control board in 小萝莉影视's new Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center. With this audio mixer, an anchor can feed live audio from any of the 47 editing stations throughout the new office, or pre-recorded news reports from 小萝莉影视's affiliates. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — A close-up view of the main control board in 小萝莉影视’s new Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center. “This is where anchors will be able to bring the audience interviews from near and far, and allow us to bring listeners the most extensive coverage of live breaking news in the D.C. region and beyond,” 小萝莉影视 reporter and anchor Mike Murillo said. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

The new Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center on Wisconsin Avenue took over from 小萝莉影视's old building on Idaho Avenue, which hosted the broadcast for three decades. More naturally lit and modernized, the new office space is surrounded by the restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping centers of Mazza Gallerie and Wisonsin Place on the Maryland side of Chevy Chase. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — The new Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center on Wisconsin Avenue took over from 小萝莉影视’s old building on Idaho Avenue at 10 p.m. on Feb. 2, which hosted the broadcast for three decades. More naturally lit and modernized, the new office space is surrounded by the restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping centers of Mazza Gallerie and Wisconsin Place on the Maryland side of Chevy Chase. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

An co-host's station in the new Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center. Pictured is 小萝莉影视's news management software, Burli, with which radio editors feed scripts, audio clips and news reports to the anchors throughout the station's hour-long lineup. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — A co-host’s station in the new Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center. Pictured is 小萝莉影视’s news management software, Burli, with which radio editors feed scripts, audio clips and news reports to the anchors throughout the station’s hourlong lineup. The main studio is also equipped with a half dozen television monitors, where anchors can monitor the news, weather, traffic and more. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

WTOP night editor Anna Isaacs at her work station on Jan. 29. The Radio Editor handles the minute-to-minute flow and coverage of news, including the order of stories in the hourly lineup. They also seek out and book interviews, and direct anchors through breaking news coverage. Like the original 小萝莉影视 newsroom, the new Radio Editor station has a direct line of sight into the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center, and can communicate with the anchors through intercom. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — 小萝莉影视 night editor Anna Isaacs at her work station on Jan. 29. The Radio Editor handles the minute-to-minute flow and coverage of news, including the order of stories in the hourly lineup. They also seek out and book interviews, and direct anchors through breaking news coverage. Like the original 小萝莉影视 newsroom, the new Radio Editor station has a direct line of sight into the main studio, and can talk with the anchors through intercom. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

The Digital Editor is in charge of overseeing the minute-to-minute coverage of 小萝莉影视.com, deciding what stories go on the homepage, editing stories and coordinating with management, radio editors and reporters how stories will be presented online. Pictured is the new Digital Editor's desk, serving as the center of operations for 小萝莉影视's website, mobile apps and social media feeds. It comes equipped with a 34-inch curved ultrawide monitor 鈥� for a digital editor, there's no such thing as too much screen space. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — The Digital Editor handles real-time oversight of 小萝莉影视.com, deciding what stories go on the homepage, editing stories and coordinating with management, radio editors and reporters on how stories will be presented online. Pictured is the new Digital Editor’s desk, serving as the center of operations for 小萝莉影视’s website and mobile apps. It comes equipped with a 34-inch curved ultrawide monitor 鈥� for a digital editor, there’s no such thing as too much screen space. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

WTOP traffic reporter Ian Crawford logs on to his station in 小萝莉影视's new Traffic Center for a test-run. The new Traffic Center is twice as large as the first, and features twice as many screens. It'll also feature another first for the traffic team: A glass window overlooking the rest of the newsroom. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — 小萝莉影视 traffic reporter Ian Crawford logs on to his station in 小萝莉影视’s new Traffic Center 鈥� twice as large as the first, and featuring twice as many screens. It also features another first for the traffic team: A glass window overlooking the rest of the newsroom. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

WTOP traffic reporter Mary de Pompa at her work station in the new Traffic Center. With more screens and updated technology, the Traffic Center will be able to monitor more camera and scanner feeds for a wider view of the situation on the roads. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — 小萝莉影视 traffic reporter Mary de Pompa at her work station in the new Traffic Center. With more screens and updated technology, the Traffic Center will be able to monitor more cameras and scanner feeds for an even wider view of the situation on the roads. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

WTOP reporter Mike Murillo (center) leads 小萝莉影视's morning traffic team (from left, Mary de Pompa, Ian Crawford and Jack Taylor) through a demonstration of the newsroom's new virtual system for taking listener phonecalls. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — 小萝莉影视 reporter and anchor Mike Murillo (seated) leads 小萝莉影视’s morning traffic team (from left, Mary de Pompa, Ian Crawford and Jack Taylor) through a demonstration of the newsroom’s new software for taking listener phone calls. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

Traffic reporter Ian Crawford runs through an off-air test of the Traffic Center's reports "on the 8's." The vertical window at center-right offers a the Traffic Center a view into the new Glass-Enclosed Nervce Center. The traffic center can communicate with the radio editor and anchors in the main studio through an intercom system.(小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez) — Traffic reporter Ian Crawford runs through an off-air test of the Traffic Center’s reports “on the 8’s.” The vertical window at center-right offers the Traffic Center a view into the new Glass-Enclosed Nervce Center. The Traffic Center can communicate with the Radio Editor and anchors through an intercom system. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

小萝莉影视 reporter Mike Murillo programs and calibrates audio sources into the main studio’s brand-new broadcast control board. From this station, an anchor can control 小萝莉影视’s broadcast in real-time by changing volume levels, toggling dozens of audio feeds and playing prerecorded ads or news reports. (小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez)

小萝莉影视/Alejandro Alvarez