The new studio for ESPN’s “First Take,” launched June 23, 2025, is a stunning example of broadcast design. Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim envisioned a space that felt “above it all,” and the Jack Morton design team delivered precisely that. Located in Studio Y at 7 Hudson Square, the set boasts floor-to-ceiling LED displays that create the illusion of breathtaking panoramic city views, reminiscent of a luxury Manhattan penthouse.
Andre Durette, leading the Jack Morton design team, crafted a sophisticated environment perfectly complementing the hosts’ elevated discussion style. Joe Ferretti, ESPN’s director of studio design and development, praised the design, stating in an interview with NCS, “Andre Durette really leaned into the upscale Manhattan high-rise penthouse design. A travel luxury feel… sophisticated.” This design contrasts sharply with the more casual atmosphere of the nearby “Get Up” studio.
The “First Take” studio exudes luxury. Premium materials, warm colors, and custom “FT” chair railing evoke Manhattan’s high-end residential towers. Tobacco-colored panels, subtle lighting, and unique LED-lit columns enhance the ambiance. Large LED displays function as floor-to-ceiling windows, creating the illusion of expansive city views and adding an Art Deco touch with their curved casing. “Stephen A and Molly wanted to have that big vista,” Ferretti explained, highlighting the windows' contribution to the show's unique broadcast location.
The studio's centerpiece is a unique desk, which Ferretti described as “a really good fit” for the program, and emphasized that “both designers did an awesome job with the desks,” referring to those used by both “Get Up” and “First Take.” Its sophisticated aesthetic complements the penthouse theme, featuring a curved, gently glowing front with an edge-lit “First Take” logo set within a warm wood frame. The large circular top allows for 360-degree usage. In addition to the main LED video wall, a large picture frame housing an LED panel continues the architectural motif.
Lit cubby shelves showcasing sports gear and decorative items further enhance the penthouse atmosphere. A large vertical LED display within a glowing frame completes this area. ESPN utilizes its remote production model with on-site technical coordination, but primary control remains in Bristol, Connecticut. The space is known internally as Studio 2 to avoid confusion with Bristol facilities. Mystic Custom Fabrication, Fuse Technical Group, and Eastern Lighting Design collaborated on the project, streamlining construction with consistent vendors across ESPN's three Hudson Square studios. The move represents the final phase of ESPN's relocation to 7 Hudson Square, joining other Walt Disney Company productions.