ktrk
CHANNEL 13 NEWS STUDIO
CATEGORY: EVENTS, TRADE SHOWS & DISPLAYS
PUBLIC DISPLAY-FIXED
SITUATION OR CHALLENGE
KTRK-TV, a premier news station serving over 5 million viewers in the Greater Houston area, sought to revitalize its broadcast studio with a modern, dynamic set in order to enhance the station’s competitive position in the Houston market. The station turned to Innovative Environments to bring this vision to life through custom design, fabrication, and installation.
The core challenge was two-fold:
Broadcast Quality Integration: We needed to ensure the set’s finishes and materials would look stunning in person and also perform perfectly under studio lighting—eliminating glare, reflection, and shadowing that could disrupt live broadcasts.
Seamless Execution Within a Live Environment: The studio operates 13+ hours of live programming each day, so our team had to coordinate construction, installation, and testing around a tight schedule with minimal disruption to daily news operations.
Beyond the technical scope, the stakes were high. The new set would become the visual face of KTRK’s brand, seen by millions. Every detail—from the curvature of the anchor desk to the temperature of the LED lighting—had to align with the designer’s creative vision and meet broadcast standards for clarity, durability, and usability.
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective was to translate the creative vision for KTRK’s new broadcast studio into a functional, high-performance set that met the demands of live television while elevating the station’s on-air presence. Our success criteria were defined across five key areas:
Lighting Optimization: Adjust LED lighting temperature and placement to enhance visual clarity and skin tone accuracy on camera.
Material Performance: Ensure that the acrylic broadcast desk and clear-coated millwork finishes remained glare-free and camera-friendly under intense studio lighting.
Functionality and Safety: Design the studio layout with smooth transitions, clear pathways, and no trip hazards, ensuring safe and efficient navigation for on-air talent and crew.
Design Integrity: Preserve the set designer’s original creative intent while offering engineering solutions to enhance durability and feasibility.
Seamless Execution: Coordinate all installation work around KTRK’s active news schedule, completing the project without disrupting daily programming.
Each of these objectives was chosen to ensure the final environment would meet technical requirements and also instill pride in the team and enhance the station’s competitive position in the Houston market.
STRATEGY & TACTICS
To achieve these objectives, we employed a comprehensive strategy combining design foresight, collaborative planning, and precision fabrication:
3D Visualization & Prototyping: We began with detailed 3D renderings, allowing the KTRK team to visualize angles, elevations, and sightlines before physical construction began. Full-scale mockups of critical elements—like the broadcast desk and podium—were built and tested on-site, ensuring ergonomic comfort and studio compatibility.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: We worked hand-in-hand with studio engineers, production staff, and on-air talent to gather real-time feedback and optimize usability. Regular virtual meetings with stakeholders enabled rapid decision-making and ensured alignment throughout the process.
Material Engineering: Our fabrication team proposed material substitutions—such as adjustments to thickness and opacity—to preserve the designer’s look while improving performance under broadcast conditions. Finishes were chosen to eliminate visual noise, enhance durability, and complement lighting design.
Efficient Execution: The project required 1,587 hours of combined labor:
- 35 man-hours for renderings, shop drawings, and production art
- 105 hours of CNC machining
- 1,255.5 fabrication hours for in-house assembly
- 191.5 installation hours, completed during nights and weekends to avoid interrupting daily broadcasts
This agile approach allowed us to deliver on time and on brand—without compromising functionality or aesthetics.
MESSAGE ALIGNMENT
The creative tone of the set aligns seamlessly with KTRK’s reputation as a modern, trustworthy, and community-driven news leader. From sleek millwork and polished surfaces to seamless transitions between set zones, every detail was crafted to elevate the station’s on-air presence.
We honored the designer’s original vision while subtly optimizing materials and engineering for live production. Rather than compromise on visual appeal, we worked collaboratively to translate design intent into functional form—balancing beauty with technical precision.
KTRK’s on-air personalities and production staff played a key role in shaping the final product. Their input was reflected in choices like step transitions, desk sizing, and lighting adjustments. This participatory process created a sense of ownership among the team and ensured the final environment looked exceptional and felt intuitive and empowering to use.
RESULTS
Each objective was successfully met or exceeded, delivering tangible and measurable results:
- Lighting Optimization Achieved:
Based on our recommendations, KTRK increased the LED temperature from the original 3500K to 7000K. This adjustment resulted in sharper visuals and better on-camera performance, enhancing the station’s broadcast quality and aligning with Objective 1. - Material Performance Delivered:
The polished acrylic broadcast desk and clear-coated millwork remained glare-free on camera, validating our material selection and fabrication approach. On-air visuals were clean and distraction-free, fulfilling Objective 2. - Functionality and Safety Ensured:
The set was designed with smooth platforms and clearly navigable paths. Anchors and camera operators reported ease of movement with no trip hazards—directly addressing Objective 3. - Design Integrity Preserved:
We collaborated closely with the designer to make behind-the-scenes material adjustments (e.g., thickness and opacity) that maintained the visual concept while improving practical performance. This balanced execution confirmed Objective 4. - Seamless Execution Under Pressure:
Installation was completed during nights and weekends to avoid interfering with the station’s daily 13 hours of live broadcasting. The project stayed on schedule and under budget, with zero interruptions to programming—successfully fulfilling Objective 5.
The impact of meeting these objectives was immediate and measurable. According to Keaton Fuchs, Vice President of News and Digital at ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston:
- Within a month of the new set’s debut, KTRK’s market share rose to 39.8%, up by over 2.5 percentage points.
- The set now supports 13 hours of live news broadcasts daily and 49+ hours of locally produced newscasts weekly.
- Feedback from anchors, engineers, and management emphasized a renewed sense of pride and professionalism, while designers praised the faithful and functional execution of their vision.
- KTRK has since become the top-rated and most-watched station in the Greater Houston area, broadcasting to nearly 2.8 million TV households.
Together, these outcomes demonstrate a complete alignment between the project’s objectives and results, underscoring the success of our strategic approach and execution.