Catch a Glimpse of the Studio Where ‘The Office’ Was Shot

The outside of Century Studio, which has a very office/warehouse feel, was utilized as Scranton Business Park. The exterior was only shown a couple of times during season one, including in the episode “Health Care,” when Michael makes a call to the Lackawanna Coal Mine to inquire about the “big ride” there, which turns out to be nothing more than a slow-moving industrial coal elevator.

In between seasons one and two, “The Office” relocated to another small production facility, Chandler Valley Center Studios at 13927 Saticoy St. in Panorama City. Century Studio Corporation eventually closed down, a victim of runaway production, and today serves as an office complex, though it is still very recognizable from its brief stint on the show.

Much like Century Studio Corporation, Chandler Valley consists of two soundstages, as well as production office space. Upon relocating there, the office set from Culver City was re-created in its entirety inside one of the soundstages (the other became the Dunder Mifflin warehouse). A few minor changes were made to the new set, including enlarging Michael’s office to allow more room for cameras, enlarging the kitchen area and adding on prop bathrooms, as well as the closet that became Ryan Howard’s (B.J. Novak) office.

For the most part, though, the set re-creation was a perfect dupe of the Culver City office space, so much so that it even confused the cast for a time. As Jenna Fischer stated in a 2006 article for TV Guide, “The craziest thing was that for the first few weeks in our new location we would forget we were on a soundstage and get confused trying to leave. The actual exit doors were all different. Just imagine if someone rebuilt the interior of your house on a soundstage. So when you walked out your ‘front door,’ instead of seeing the outside you were still inside a giant warehouse with lights and equipment. It felt like we were on ‘The Truman Show!’”

Following the move, “The Office” production team set up shop in the building situated next door to the soundstage. It is that structure that served as the exterior of Scranton Business Park for the remainder of the series.

Its exterior was shown so often throughout seasons two through nine that it is as synonymous with “The Office” as Michael Scott himself.

A watercolor of the building, painted by Pam in season three’s “Business School,” even hung outside of Michael’s office for the duration of the series – replicas of which are now plastered all over Etsy.

The parking lot in front of the building also appeared countless times on the show and was the site of several unforgettable moments, including Michael’s beloved Chrysler Sebring Limited convertible filling with snow in season three’s “The Return,” Michael hitting Meredith Palmer (Kate Flannery) with his car in season four’s “Fun Run,” and, most memorably, Jim finally telling Pam he is in love with her in season two’s “Casino Night.”

The “1725” address numbers situated above the front doors of the building were props, installed by “The Office” team. Series producer Kent Zbornak, whom Jenna and Angela refer to on their podcast as “Kentopedia” due to his vast knowledge of all things “Office”-related, created a fictitious address of 1725 Slough Avenue for Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch during season one, and had the numbers fashioned to reflect it. When filming moved to Panorama City, the signage was moved, as well, and installed outside of Chandler Valley Center Studios. Since “The Office” wrapped in 2013, the numbers have been replaced with the studio’s actual 13927 address. But during the years the show was on the air, they were on full display – and completely visible through the studio gates – along with other Scranton Business Park signage.

The character’s cars, like the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am belonging to Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), could also often be seen parked in the lot out front. As such, Chandler Valley Center Studios soon became a mecca for “Office” fans, who made pilgrimages there regularly.

It remains so to this day, more than seven years after the series wrapped. Even without the prop signage and picture cars out front, Chandler Valley Center Studios is hallowed ground for “Office” fans.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: Chandler Valley Center Studios, aka Scranton Business Park from “The Office,” is located at 13927 Saticoy St. in Panorama City.

For more Dirt on Scranton Business Park from “The Office,” click over to the main page.