Is there any reason why they reduced the number of Entrances to Engineering?

[Aldo]

I was reading another thread and someone brought up the fact that they number of entrances to Engineering was reduced from four to two after the Pilot episode by putting up consoles. After doing some digging I noticed they didn't bother changing the carpet, so it's easy to see where the old entrances were.

I know in the grand scheme of things this is small potatoes, but stuff like this really fascinates me. I'm just curious if anyone came out and said why this was done?

 

[pteal1979]

I believe it was because part of the engineering set was also used as part of the corridor set in many episodes. birthright part I, when data is day dreaming is one such instance.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

One of the entrances that was blocked off, actually reopened for Generations.

We see this same 'extra corridor' in ST:TMP when the transporter is malfunctioning. Scotty tries to get the unit to abort and one of the engineers says "It's too late, they're beaming now!" Then Kirk and Scotty go and run out of shot, into a side corridor, on their way to the transporter room.

The corridor that Kirk and Scotty run through, on their way out of engineering, is the same one (since the same engineering set was used in TMP and TNG) that was blocked off for most of TNG, but reopened in Generations.

 

[matthunter]

They went from having multiple Chief Engineers to just one, so didn't need as many doors.

 

[MarsWeeps]

Threads like this would be so much better with pictures that show what you are talking about...just sayin'

 

[Lance]

As others have said, it was all about the flexibility of getting more corridors to film in.

Take out the plugs,.roll down the engine room door, wheel out the 'pool table', and voila, instant corridor.

Another use of it was as the Enterprise gym. Eg the famous gym scene of Crusher and Troi from "The Price", or Worf and Sito Jaxa from "Lower Decks". Just put in a couple of mirrors and you're done.

In terms of an 'in universe' explanation why we see those corridors lead to engineering in a couple of episodes (and one movie) but not at any other time, maybe it's an example of the Enterprise D's modular nature? It's designed to have things that pull out and plug in and change around. Easily customizable. Although why anybody would want to plug up two corridors 'in verse' I can not say.