A Letter to You From Our President/CEO

Contributing to the vitality of the community and its long-term future has always been inherent in the mission of Cincinnati Public Radio.  When it was time to build our new home, we sought a forward-looking building that valued environmental sustainability as well as wellness.

One of the most exciting aspects of our new headquarters/studio facility is that it is one of the first buildings in Ohio – and, to our knowledge, the first broadcast facility in the country – constructed of Mass Timber. When people hear this, invariably, they ask why we chose to go this route, so I thought I’d share the answers:

• It reduces our carbon footprint – It comes from a renewable resource that actually absorbs destructive carbon and produces oxygen.
• The timber columns, beams, floor and roof slabs for CPR are manufactured offsite and the structural dimensions are optimized, reducing construction waste and erection time.
• In the event of a fire, charring on the outside of structural members insulates the structure (rivalling and even surpassing the structural integrity of steel girders) and provides time for escape.

We’re excited about innovative features such as:

LEED Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC): The project is striving to meet these goals by focusing on core areas such as water and energy efficiency, high indoor air quality, and considerate material choices.

Energy Efficiency and Healthier Building: The radiant heating and cooling system is energy efficient and ensures healthy indoor air quality.

Occupant Comfort and Efficiency: Radiant temperature control allows the building occupants to stay more comfortable at a lower or higher temperature range (season dependent) because only the area near the floor is controlled allowing the large volume above to adjust naturally. 

Healthy Building: Radiant heating and cooling requires less air movement which diminishes the ambient noise levels and minimizes transmission of airborne as much as possible. Bringing in fresh outside air regulates the CO2 levels and quality air filters lower pollutants.

Solar Panels: Solar panels may offset 5% of the building’s energy demand.

Water Efficiency: Water-Sense fixtures to reduce the water usage by 45%  and automatic touchless faucets and native drought resistant plants require no irrigation.

Creating a Tight Building Envelope: Ensuring the building envelope is well sealed minimizes air infiltration, helps to keep the building temperature stable, promoting energy efficiency and keeps humidity levels in check, averting mold growth.

The new home of Cincinnati Public Radio is currently under construction just off I-71 in Evanston, and we hope to be open to the public in early 2025. We look forward to welcoming you into this new home for WGUC, WVXU and WMUB!