While many buildings at Penn have received facelifts and renovations over summer break, the WXPN studios have found a new home on campus. Starting on Oct. 1, the radio station headquarters will be relocated from their dual offices at 3905 Spruce St. and 4025 Chestnut St. to a new site on the other side of campus.
"We have converted an empty factory to an entertainment complex and a beachhead for Penn's eastward expansion, all without the University having to subsidize us," WXPN General Manager Roger LaMay said.
After many years of planning and several months of actual construction and renovations, the new WXPN studio will be located at 3025 Walnut St. A 40,000-square-foot venue, the location was formerly called the Hajoca building.
The new studio site will house not only the WXPN staff and several live music studios, but also World Cafe Live, a private enterprise offering concerts and dining opportunities.
The move and renovations will allow the entire WXPN staff to work under one roof for the first time. The studio was formerly located on Spruce Street, while the administrative offices were on Chestnut Street.
"Before the new studio, we would only be able to hold one event or have one band perform at a time," WXPN Director of Marketing Kim Winnick said. "Now, since we have multiple studios and one much larger studio that can even hold an audience, we will be able to accommodate several performances at once."
In terms of financial support for the project, the station which is run by the University had a capital campaign goal of $4 million, which is expected to be reached soon, Winnick said.
The money was spent on renovating the current space, as well as on creating multiple studios for the station to use.
According to LaMay, the construction will be completed on schedule. Work started on the new building in August 2003.
At the outset of construction, the budget for the new studio was projected at $3.6 million, and was changed to $4 million in February. LaMay said the building will cost just over that, but $3.9 million has been raised so far, and more money is coming in.
"We're in wonderful shape," he said.
Renovation plans were limited by Penn's decision not to change the exterior of the new building at all during construction. The Hajoca building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. For respecting the historical significance of the edifice, the University received tax breaks on part of the construction.
