Cooling the Airwaves
(Syracuse, N.Y., May 06, 2002) -- Carrier isn't the only one celebrating a big anniversary this year. 2002 also marks NBC's 75th anniversary. A look back through the peacock-proud network's history turns up some interesting stories. However, it should come as no surprise that Carrier is an important part of many NBC milestones.
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General Electric, RCA and Westinghouse founded the National Broadcasting Company in 1926. This discovery established the first permanent radio network. In 1927, NBC was responsible for the first coast to coast radio network broadcast from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. That same year, the rapidly growing NBC moved from its studios located at 195 Broadway and 33 West 42nd Street to new studios at 711 Fifth Avenue. These new studios, referred to as NBC's "ideal broadcast center," were comfort cooled by Carrier. Although these studios were never used to broadcast a television signal for NBC, the Fifth Avenue studios were the sight of the first full year of programming.
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Two years later, in 1929, NBC leased the New Amsterdam Theater when the network found that large scale programs could not be accommodated at the Fifth Avenue location. During that time, Radio City, New York's huge realty development devoted to entertainment, was under construction. Rockefeller Center was originally built to house the Metropolitan Opera. The Opera pulled out of the deal, and John D. Rockefeller reworked the plan to open the site as "Radio City," standing 850 ft tall.
On November 15, 1933, NBC officially entered the elaborate studio suite in Radio City. The suite covered 400,000 sq ft of floor space in an 11-story wing of the RCA skyscraper, now know as the General Electric building. The new studios embodied the most up-to-date broadcasting ideas and showed marked improvements from technical, decorative and practical angles. One of the greatest improvements was the air conditioning systems, again perfected by Carrier.
Two of the most important engineering problems to solve within the studios' design were air conditioning and soundproofing. The absence of windows and direct natural ventilation in the studios necessitated the installation of the largest air-conditioning plant in the world at that time.
Carrier air conditioning made it possible to shut out unwanted noise during the studio broadcasts. The systems also allowed for comfortable conditions for performers and audience members.
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