A look back: ‘Today Show’ Studio 1A over the years

In 2006, in preparation for the show’s switch to high definition, the studio was completely overhauled, this time with an ultra sleek look that many referred to as a cross between a spa and sushi bar. 

This update also included reconfiguring the second-floor space of the studio to close off an “overlook” that was part of the original design but had rarely been used, as well as a new kitchen and multipurpose area with a large, ceiling-mounted video monitor. 

The new look made heavy use of white surfaces accented with silver and gray and frosted glass panels with color-changing backgrounds. The anchor desk retained its now familiar blue “Today” logotype background, again configured in a way that allowed it to be moved. 

For this version of Studio 1A, designers found a technology-driven solution for hiding the pesky corner pillar — using a vertical section of LED placed diagonally to hide it.

Mounted behind and above this panel was a camera that provided a live feed of the background behind it, which could be fed, in realtime, to the video panel allowing portions of the cityscape hidden by the column to become visible.

Because of camera positioning and optics, the view was never seamless — but instead it looked sort of like there was a pane glass there that warped and slightly magnified the view.

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This look would be refined over the years, including an updated anchor desk in 2013.