NBC Universal Announces Major Commitment To Los Angeles: Creating New Vision For Universal City

Retained Los Angeles' urban planning experts Jim Thomas, Thomas Properties Group and Bob Hale, Rios Clementi Hale Studios to help design future vision

UNIVERSAL CITY, California, March 22, 2006 - NBC Universal announced plans to create a long-term vision plan for the approximately 400-acre Universal City property, home to Universal Studios, the largest motion picture and television production studio in the world, CityWalk and Universal Studios Hollywood.

"Universal City plays an important role in our company and in Los Angeles," said Ron Meyer, president and COO, Universal Studios. "Now is the time to shape a vision not only for the continued vitality of our studio and theme park businesses but for the property itself. We are pleased to be collaborating with a world-class team made up of Jim Thomas and Bob Hale. Together working with our employees, neighbors, City and County, we believe that we can create a more dynamic and vibrant 'city' within the City of Los Angeles."

Since its inception in 1912, Universal City has become a diverse "City within a City" with major infrastructure, studio, theme park, entertainment venues, hotels, commercial office buildings and a regional transportation hub at the property's front door on Lankershim Boulevard. Utilizing the best in urban planning and smart growth principles, the Vision Plan will evaluate four areas for the future of the property:

• The Core Studio/Front Lot - analyzing the needs of the studio business
• The Backlot - analyzing the feasibility of adding residential, retail or production facilities
• The Entertainment Center - analyzing the needs of the Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park and CityWalk
• The Business Center - analyzing the needs of the office and hotel uses

NBC Universal has retained Thomas Properties Group and Rios Clementi Hale Studios to define ways to integrate the property with the goals and needs of the City and County of Los Angeles and the community. Thomas Properties Group will be charged with the assessment of the backlot as well as overall property integration including the property's edge adjacent to Los Angeles River. Rios Clementi Hale Studios will lead the urban planning process creating a cohesive master plan for the diverse property.

"Universal City is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Los Angeles and we are fortunate to have a responsible owner like NBC Universal committed to addressing its future in the best interests of its neighbors and the city as well as its future needs," said James A. Thomas, chief executive officer of Thomas Properties Group. "This is one of the largest contiguous properties in Los Angeles and home to two of our economy's most critical industries. We are pleased to have been selected to collaborate on a shared vision for this major piece in our city's urban fabric."

"Designed as an Entertainment City more than 95 years ago, Universal City is like no other place in the world and plays an important role in the social and economic infrastructure of Los Angeles," said Bob Hale, FAIA, principal of Rios Clementi Hale Studios. "Our Studio is proud to help NBC Universal create a new vision for the future of Universal City."

In August 2005, the company commenced a Real Estate Needs Assessment to better understand current and long-term needs of the various businesses at Universal City. As a result of this assessment, it became clear that a long-term plan was needed to secure the future of Universal City. Over the next several months, the company will work with its advisors, the City and County of Los Angeles, the neighbors and larger community to finalize a Vision Plan for Universal City. The Vision Plan process will include preparation of a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR), as well as a comprehensive public process of review, comment and participation. For more information on the Vision Plan, please contact Darnell Tyler at (818) 777-6693.

About Universal City

Universal City is a multi-faceted entertainment and business complex like no other in Los Angeles. With a workforce of more than 6,000 employees, Universal City is home to Universal Studios, the largest motion picture and television studio in the world, 22 production companies, Universal CityWalk and Universal Studios Hollywood, one of the leading tourist destinations in Los Angeles. There are approximately 370 buildings on the property with over 30 of them serving as fully operational sound stages. In 2005, Universal Studios had more than 45 television shows filmed on their back lot including Desperate Housewives, Crossing Jordan, and Complete Savages. 120 commercials and 30 feature and independent films including Jarhead, Skeleton Key, and Kicking and Screaming were also filmed at Universal. While the studio often works at over 90% capacity to bring to the world some of the finest and most watched television and film offerings today, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk entertain thousands of tourists and residents daily. Since its founding in 1964, Universal Studios Hollywood has taken over 125 million visitors behind the scenes of the movie and television industry's biggest hits with movie and TV-based-rides, attractions and the world-famous Universal Studios Tour. Universal CityWalk provides visitors a unique retail, dining and entertainment experience with over 30 quick and full service restaurants and bars, an AMC 18 theater complex with IMAX screen, Gibson Amphitheatre and approximately 30 different shops and boutiques.

About Thomas Properties Group

Founded in 1996 by James A. Thomas, Thomas Properties Group (TPG) is a major national real estate company that plans, develops and manages large complex projects throughout the United States for its own portfolio as well as third parties. The TPG corporate philosophy is rooted in the belief that real estate requires an uncommon synthesis of experience, local understanding and relationships, and vision. TPG is the only real estate company with a track record in green highrise construction and management, and has been recognized nationally for its innovative green operating practices at the Joe Serna, Jr./Cal-EPA headquarters in Sacramento that save over $1 million annually for the State of California. As the co-founder of Maguire Thomas Partners, Mr. Thomas was largely responsible for the downtown Los Angeles skyline including Library Tower, Gas Company Tower and Wells Fargo Center and authored an urban plan that saved the historic Los Angeles Central Library. Currently TPG owns another downtown LA landmark, City National Plaza. A well-known civic leader with a devotion to the arts and urban design, Mr. Thomas led the Board of Governors of the Music Center of Los Angeles County during the planning of Disney Hall, and later led an initiative to redesign the Music Center campus, in collaboration with urban designer Bob Hale. For the past five years as founder and co-chair of the Grand Avenue Committee, Mr. Thomas spearheaded a dramatic urban plan for downtown Los Angeles that includes a 16-acre central park.

About Rios Clementi Hale Studios

Rios Clementi Hale Studios, a California Corporation, was founded in 1985 as a multidisciplinary design firm striving to create singular, integrated and comprehensive solutions for environmental design challenges within a creative studio environment. Combined, their talents comprise a wide range of professional skills including architecture, landscape architecture, graphic, interior, exhibit and product design. Project types include corporate, retail, institutional, municipal and residential commissions. Rios Clementi Hale Studios treats the design intent and execution for every project as a solution unique to each client and to their programmatic requirements allowing clients to actively participate in the creative process. Bob Hale is Managing Principal of Rios Clementi Hale Studios. With 25 years of diverse design, planning, and management experience, Mr. Hale is well respected within the community and often called upon to lecture on his own work, urban design, entertainment design, and other trends in architecture. Previous projects that Mr. Hale has directed include Nokia Plaza, Grand Avenue and The Music Center of Los Angeles, Westfield Century City and The California Endowment Campus at Terminal Annex.

Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi Universal.

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Press Contact:Cindy Gardner
Universal Studios
(818) 777-2581
cindy.gardner@nbcuni.com