Highly popular radio station/NPR-affiliate KCRW is one step closer toward its big, new architectural home at Santa Monica College—according to a statement, the station has broken ground on its new 35,000-square-foot Media Center. Quite a change from the "extremely cramped" campus basement they've occupied for the past 30 years. Construction is scheduled to wrap in 2015, and the station's expecting to be working out of the new buildings by the beginning of 2016. The Media Center was designed by Clive Wilkinson Architects, which is also working on the redesign of the SMC Academy of Entertainment & Technology campus, where the KCRW building will be located. The remodel will expand existing SMC facilities and have a 430-space parking structure to be shared by the radio station and SMC.
The latest design for the radio station's new LEED-Silver-certified digs don't look too much like the ivy-covered design that won the commission back in 2008, but who cares as long as the building actually has windows. The new, three-story studio/offices/event space will include an 18,000-square-foot courtyard and 180-seat amphitheater that will host events programmed by KCRW. The KCRW Media Center is projected to cost $48 million, $33 million of which KCRW has already secured.
· Closer Look at Clive Wilkinson's Plans for KCRW and Santa Monica College [Curbed LA]
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