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New home for KPLU is almost complete
January 26, 2009
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The three-story building still smelled of paint, and a snarl of wires snaked their way down corridors, and into rooms with “do not cross” tape strung across doorways. But it’s almost done. A year after groundbreaking, the Martin J. Neeb Center, KPLU’s new headquarters, is almost complete.
In March, the move in by the Office of Development will begin, followed, a few weeks later, by the KPLU administrators and staff.
When the move-in is complete, the 13,000-square-foot building, named for the stations’ long-time general manager, will more than double the size of the station’s current home in Eastvold Hall, where the station has resided for more than 40 years.
Larry Neeb, who jump started the capital campaign with a $1 million donation, told PLU’s Board of Regents earlier this month that the entire project stands on the shoulders, not only of the major donors or on air talent, but on those that answer the phones, organize the files and sweep the halls of the KPLU station.
Larry’s brother, Martin, was station manager for 25 years, before retiring in 2006. It was Martin Neeb who oversaw the station’s switchover from classical to jazz and news. Today, KPLU covers the largest listening area of any station in Washington State.
PLU President Loren Anderson called the new station a “tipping point” for KPLU in his luncheon address to the university’s Board of Regents Jan. 16.
Anderson said that he believed that the station, now under the leadership of manager Paul Stankavich, “is poised to become an international, multi-media content provider.”
Larry Neeb, a PLU regent and long-time KPLU supporter said he hoped the new building would be a springboard for greater things and greater progress at KPLU. Larry and Martin Neeb, as well as Martin’s wife, Barbara, stood with Anderson in front of the new building for the “ribbon cutting” – actually they snipped audio tape – before the formal tour.
The $8.9 million building was built to stringent environmental standards, and included state-of-the art facilities, and environmentally stable storage for classic records and an improved workplace for employees.
The new station will likely qualify for a “gold” rating as part of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program. It would be the second LEED certified building on PLU’s campus, preceded by the Morken Center for Learning and Technology, which opened its doors in 2006.
A formal celebration of the new building will be held in October of this year.
Content Development Director Barbara Clements compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 7427 or at clemenba@plu.edu. Photo by University Photographer Jordan Hartman.
When the move-in is complete, the 13,000-square-foot building, named for the stations’ long-time general manager, will more than double the size of the station’s current home in Eastvold Hall, where the station has resided for more than 40 years.
Larry Neeb, who jump started the capital campaign with a $1 million donation, told PLU’s Board of Regents earlier this month that the entire project stands on the shoulders, not only of the major donors or on air talent, but on those that answer the phones, organize the files and sweep the halls of the KPLU station.
Larry’s brother, Martin, was station manager for 25 years, before retiring in 2006. It was Martin Neeb who oversaw the station’s switchover from classical to jazz and news. Today, KPLU covers the largest listening area of any station in Washington State.
PLU President Loren Anderson called the new station a “tipping point” for KPLU in his luncheon address to the university’s Board of Regents Jan. 16.
Anderson said that he believed that the station, now under the leadership of manager Paul Stankavich, “is poised to become an international, multi-media content provider.”
Larry Neeb, a PLU regent and long-time KPLU supporter said he hoped the new building would be a springboard for greater things and greater progress at KPLU. Larry and Martin Neeb, as well as Martin’s wife, Barbara, stood with Anderson in front of the new building for the “ribbon cutting” – actually they snipped audio tape – before the formal tour.
The $8.9 million building was built to stringent environmental standards, and included state-of-the art facilities, and environmentally stable storage for classic records and an improved workplace for employees.
The new station will likely qualify for a “gold” rating as part of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program. It would be the second LEED certified building on PLU’s campus, preceded by the Morken Center for Learning and Technology, which opened its doors in 2006.
A formal celebration of the new building will be held in October of this year.
Content Development Director Barbara Clements compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 7427 or at clemenba@plu.edu. Photo by University Photographer Jordan Hartman.