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

Later that year, Studio 1A was completely overhauled again. The new look was, in many ways, a blend of the ultramodern and clean look the show had just stopped using, but with added warmth and texture.

For example, the new look featured angled white header elements and slatted color-changing walls, but combined it with industrial-style black frames, custom furniture and gold textured walls.

This set was dubbed “America’s Living Room” and notably kept home base roughly in the same position, but flipped the opening shot around to use other areas of the set, including the sofa area, as its background.

Shooting this way introduced some blocking challenges, including other talent and jibs showing up behind the anchor shot.

‘Today’ debuts from ‘America’s Living Room’

In this new layout, the desk was placed on a rotating turntable that allowed the desk to be flipped and still use the windows as a background. 

Conceptual rendering of the 2013 redesign from Jeremy Conway.

Another notable change to this design was the elimination of the news desk, an element that had been part of the set’s layout for years.

The news desk area was instead taken over by a segment of wall that jutted out to create a sort of “blind” corner that allowed for a one-on-one interview area to be tucked behind it. 

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Meanwhile, the footprint previously dedicated to the interview area was reconfigured and expanded to become the “Orange Room” — a social media hub.

The flurry of changes required NBC to push the debut of the new set by one week.

With Matt back, new Studio 1A plays host to two main anchors

In 2014, the second floor was updated to include a new area for the fourth hour of “Today,” hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb.

Kathie Lee and Hoda get new set

The area was also designed to be used for other segments.

In 2015, “Today” updated the 2013 design significantly, with a new anchor desk to allow for shooting in the round, a lighting color palette and a new Orange Room along with upgraded technology.

Studio 1A was mirrored — in miniature form — in 2016 when the show added a photobooth and “Mini Room.”