Demolition and construction started in the fall of 2011, with the work scheduled to be completed by October 2012. King & King Architects of Syracuse is the lead architect.
The $20 million “green” facility features two buildings; the television studios on one side, and the radio studio on the other, separated by an open to the public courtyard that will serve as an open door to the Center. With a state of the art learning facility for students, a wireless café, and more room for audiences to watch television and radio shows being produced, WCNY will connect to its viewers and listeners by welcoming them through that door and into the community’s new home.
The Broadcast and Education Center will include Joint Master Control, a technical and content management hub that will serve all nine PBS stations in New York. With one location storing and broadcasting PBS’ quality entertainment for every station throughout the state, the nine stations will save a combined $20 million over the first 10 years.
In addition to the savings produced by Joint Master Control, WCNY will also realize energy savings because the Broadcast and Education Center will be a LEED Platinum building. That’s the highest ranking awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating system.