Fully blending indoors and outdoors, this campus redesign fosters creative, collaborative work by encouraging employees to mingle in inspiring common spaces. Influenced by more than a century of filmmaking on the Universal Lot, The Commons recalls the round, spinning zoetrope of early animation that captured live action on film reels. Suffused with natural light, the 84,000-sf building is a place to gather, enjoy a meal, meet colleagues and guests, and host special events. The Commons opens to the heart of campus, a green lawn shaded by mature trees, which holds events ranging from movie screenings and farmers' markets to all-hands town hall meetings and galas.

Since opening, weekly social events at the lawn have completely transformed the social life of the NBCU campus. According to NBCU, event bookings have doubled since the new campus opened. Tucked into a dramatic slope, the 350,000-sf One Universal anchors one end of the paseo. The 11-story tiered building features sweeping views of the San Gabriel Mountains, a wrap-around outdoor deck for meetings and gatherings, screening rooms and other shared amenities. The design incorporates Southern California's architecture and landscape to create a context-specific cultural ambiance.