Construction begins for new KUAF building
Campus radio station breaks ground for new high-tech lair
Taniah Tudor
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: News
The UA public radio station, KUAF 91.3, hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday at its new location on School Street across from the Fayetteville Public Library.
The station will be replacing its 2,500 square-foot space with a new 7,500 square-foot facility, said Terry Bumgardner, the director of individual giving for KUAF. The location that the station has been in for the last 10 and a half years is a retro-fitted apartment, Bumgardner said.
The new studio will be just for radio, and KUAF plans to expand programming and regional news coverage, broadcast live shows, and host live community concerts, said Bumgardner and Danielle Strickland, manager of advancement communications for University Relations.
It also will operate three high-definition radio stations - the standard mixed format of news and music, one classical, and one with only news and information, Bumgardner said.
The new facility will offer more office and studio space, room to host events, and more space and parking for fundraiser volunteers, Bumgardner said.
"It will enable us to do a lot more than our current situation," she said.
The new station will have a performance studio, and KUAF will be able to invite guests such as Jura Margalis, a renowned pianist and UA piano professor, to perform live, Bumgardner said.
"It's just going to create an exciting atmosphere and give a new creative energy to the station," she said.
The new building for KUAF is being made possible by gifts and donations that are part of a $1.5 million fundraising campaign, and more than $900,000 already has been raised, Strickland said.
Co-chairs of the capital campaign volunteer committee are Ann Henry, Frank Sharp and Dan Ferritor, with honorary chair Jim Blair, according to a press release.
The vast majority of gifts are from individuals, Bumgardner said. Many donations are from people who already support the programming annually and stepped up to make additional gifts, she said. The largest gift was $500,000, and it was given anonymously, she said.
"People are still listening to the station," Strickland said. "That really shows the community cares about the service KUAF provides."
KUAF currently has more than 50,000 viewers who tune in weekly, Bumgardner said.
The new station has not been given a name yet; it is still waiting on approval from the board of trustees, Strickland said.
The station will be replacing its 2,500 square-foot space with a new 7,500 square-foot facility, said Terry Bumgardner, the director of individual giving for KUAF. The location that the station has been in for the last 10 and a half years is a retro-fitted apartment, Bumgardner said.
The new studio will be just for radio, and KUAF plans to expand programming and regional news coverage, broadcast live shows, and host live community concerts, said Bumgardner and Danielle Strickland, manager of advancement communications for University Relations.
It also will operate three high-definition radio stations - the standard mixed format of news and music, one classical, and one with only news and information, Bumgardner said.
The new facility will offer more office and studio space, room to host events, and more space and parking for fundraiser volunteers, Bumgardner said.
"It will enable us to do a lot more than our current situation," she said.
The new station will have a performance studio, and KUAF will be able to invite guests such as Jura Margalis, a renowned pianist and UA piano professor, to perform live, Bumgardner said.
"It's just going to create an exciting atmosphere and give a new creative energy to the station," she said.
The new building for KUAF is being made possible by gifts and donations that are part of a $1.5 million fundraising campaign, and more than $900,000 already has been raised, Strickland said.
Co-chairs of the capital campaign volunteer committee are Ann Henry, Frank Sharp and Dan Ferritor, with honorary chair Jim Blair, according to a press release.
The vast majority of gifts are from individuals, Bumgardner said. Many donations are from people who already support the programming annually and stepped up to make additional gifts, she said. The largest gift was $500,000, and it was given anonymously, she said.
"People are still listening to the station," Strickland said. "That really shows the community cares about the service KUAF provides."
KUAF currently has more than 50,000 viewers who tune in weekly, Bumgardner said.
The new station has not been given a name yet; it is still waiting on approval from the board of trustees, Strickland said.
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