FKP-Designed Seacrest Studios Opens in Children’s Medical Center

11/15/2012 | FKP Architects

On November 14, FKP Architects celebrated with Children’s Medical Center and the Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF) as Seacrest Studios, a state-of-the-art, multimedia broadcast studio, made its initial broadcast. The ribbon cutting was made all the more special with appearances by Ryan Seacrest, singer Selena Gomez and musical star Shealeigh.


"This is one of the best facilities in the country, as those who have used it know. It's also the hometown of Selena, and she said to me about a year ago, 'If you're going to open more would you consider doing it in my hometown ... I'd like to be a part of that,' so, here we are," Seacrest said.


“The Ryan Seacrest Foundation does such incredible work with pediatric hospitals across the country, and I’m excited to be a part of it,” Gomez said. “I’m particularly thrilled to help Ryan open a broadcast center in my hometown of Dallas at Children’s Medical Center, as giving back to the kids here is so important to me.”


This new broadcast center is part of an entertainment initiative that radio and television host and producer Ryan Seacrest’s foundation developed to help patients explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media. The facility will broadcast entertainment programming throughout the hospital, letting patients unable to leave their rooms take part in the fun. The studio encompasses more than 600 square feet, and an outdoor courtyard lets visitors watch the activities. The studio also will include a performance stage, which will serve as a venue for the many celebrities who visit Children’s.


FKP has also worked with RSF on studios in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange, California. Future vision is for Seacrest Studios to expand around the country, becoming a national broadcasting network serving children’s hospitals.


"We decided to build these studios where they [kids] can come and they can participate if they can leave their rooms, if they can't they can also participate through their televisions and phones. Every room is going to have the program wired into their room — the phones connect to the studio so they too can participate. So everybody can be involved," Seacrest said Wednesday in Dallas.


“We are thrilled and thankful that the Ryan Seacrest Foundation has chosen us for this special honor,” said Ben Retta, senior director of support services for Children’s. “The studio will be a hub of activity that will uplift the spirits of the patients, families and staff. The programming will have a positive impact and allow patients some normalcy while dealing with a chronic illness. It gives us a unique opportunity to enhance the patient-family experience here and to provide a virtual playroom for children.”

For more about Children’s Medical Center, visit www.childrens.com.
For more about The Ryan Seacrest Foundation, visit www.ryanseacrestfoundation.org.


About FKP Architects
Celebrating 75 years, today’s FKP Architects delivers more than architecture in the health care and research market sectors. The firm engages its promise of Transforming business by design® across all core services of architecture, interior design, equipment planning and operational consulting, and works with top-tier pediatric and cancer institutions, community and academic medical campuses throughout the world. For more information, visit www.fkp.com.