WOSU Public Media Exceeds $12M Capital Campaign Goal – New Headquarters Set to Open This Fall
COLUMBUS, OHIO, APRIL 27, 2021 – WOSU Public Media has surpassed its ambitious $12 million goal to support its new headquarters as part of the 15+HIGH project. The new five-floor building, located just across the street from The Ohio State University campus, will include radio and television studios and community spaces for events.
“WOSU’s success is built on the foundation of thousands of members providing annual support, and building a new headquarters is no different,” said WOSU general manager Tom Rieland. “The future of public media in Central Ohio has been secured as the entire community came together to allow WOSU to serve the community for many decades to come.”
Forty-three donors took a leadership role in the New Place. New Space. New Experience. capital campaign through gifts of $25,000 or more, including previously announced foundational gifts from Andy and Sandy Ross, L Brands Foundation and American Electric Power Foundation. All members of the Friends of WOSU Board supported the campaign.
“WOSU’s campaign was successful because of our generous Central Ohio community. More than 2,500 donors gave to support the new headquarters, with donations of $2 up to $5 million. All these gifts made an impact in creating WOSU Public Media’s dynamic new home,” said Friends of WOSU Board president Kyle Anderson.
“WOSU is a trusted and beloved provider of news, information and entertainment for Columbus and Central Ohio,” said Michael C. Eicher, senior vice president for advancement and president of The Ohio State University Foundation. “We are grateful that the reach and influence of WOSU will continue to grow for many years to come from its new home thanks to the generosity of our dedicated supporters, friends and partners.”
The $32 million building, located at the corner of 14th Avenue and Pearl Alley, is part of the 15+HIGH district being developed by Campus Partners. The new 52,000-square-foot WOSU headquarters and studios is scheduled to be completed by June and the facility will be fully operational by September.
Flexibly designed to allow for change as media evolves, the dynamic new headquarters focuses on open spaces for creativity and knowledge-sharing. The new building features the Ross Community Studio, an open 2,200-square-foot engagement space; an expanded newsroom; broadcast studios; a performance studio; and a state-of-the art media learning lab. Experiential activities will grow tremendously as the new headquarters will be home to dozens of community events each year.
“It’s a transformative moment in our 99-year history of service,” said Rieland. “This makes WOSU more accessible and engaging to the public and greatly expands our local programming capabilities. We will also see incredible growth in the number of students who gain real-world and media experience working at WOSU.”
Since its first regular broadcast in 1922, WOSU Public Media has delivered engaging local and global news and public affairs programming, provided front-row access to musical performances, and inspired over two million Central Ohio citizens through lifelong learning experiences.
Design and development of the new headquarters was led by Campus Partners and Meyers + Associates Architecture based in Columbus, with primary construction by Messer Construction. Other contractors include Jezerinac Geers & Associates Inc., EMH&T, MKSK, Prater Engineering Associates and Diversified, a technology integration company. WOSU consulted with Russ Berger Design Group, which specializes in studio and broadcast facility design and acoustics. Creative Palette, CURV and ProVideo Systems all partnered in final installations.
A grand opening weekend of celebration is being planned for October.
About WOSU Public Media
The mission of WOSU Public Media is to engage, inform and inspire our diverse community. An NPR and PBS affiliate licensed by The Ohio State University, WOSU is a noncommercial multimedia organization serving over two million citizens in Central Ohio through broadcast, digital, programming, public engagement and education experiences. Learn more at wosu.org.
CONTACT:
Amy Tillinghast
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
614-688-2166 | amy.tillinghast@wosu.org