A state-of-the-art multimedia production studio will be added to the existing USC Capital Campus in Washington D.C., funded by a $5 million grant from USC Life Trustee Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation, according to a USC Annenberg press release.
“At this time, it makes perfect sense to support the School of Communication and Journalism in establishing a state-of-the-art multimedia hub,” Annenberg said in the press release. “The Annenberg Foundation has long worked to advance communications in our nation and around the globe, and this new multimedia production studio will serve as a vehicle for both.”
The existing building is located in Washington’s Dupont Circle. The press release stated that the new studio space includes a street-level Wallis Annenberg Studio with a wrap-around window design. The space is optimized for producing and streaming video and audio content.
This new studio is similar to the media center at USC’s main University Park Campus in Los Angeles. It will anchor the USC Capital Campus, alongside the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service and the USC Shoah Foundation. The facility is another addition to the programs offered by USC in D.C., including the Annenberg Maymester course that connects students with leaders in government, global organizations and NGOs.
The press release indicated that space will be open to all USC students and faculty, and will support students interested in cultivating skills and pursuing careers in media, journalism, public policy and global communications.
In the press release, President Carol Folt expressed her excitement for the new facility and appreciation for Dean Willow Bay’s involvement in the project.
“USC was a first mover when selecting this beautiful building to be our new home in the nation’s capital,” Folt said. “The Wallis Annenberg Studio will be a hub for direct engagement between our students and opinion leaders and policy makers. Also, it furthers USC’s mission to be a part of the civic life of the nation’s capital and be a powerful force to serve the public good.”
Dean Bay expressed the timeliness of the new project.
“There is no better time — or place — for our students to engage with the policies and people shaping our world,” Bay said in the press release. “The Annenberg Foundation’s bold investment will empower students to develop their skills as intellectually rigorous, ethically grounded storytellers who produce content that informs, inspires and drives critical conversations.”
The Capital Campus in D.C. opened in 2023. The press release did not include an opening date for the production studio.