Spokane Public Radio

Moving to a Sound Future

SPR Fire Station No. 3 by Don HamiltonSpokane Public Radio rehabilitated a historic Spokane treasure, Fire Station No. 3 on North Monroe and Sharp. This community hub has state-of-the-art performing and recording studios. We are in the process of growing the news, arts coverage, and local programing you depend on. Thank you for your gifts to the Moving to a Sound Future project!

SPR Fire Station No. 3: Major Construction Nearly Complete

Spokane Public Radio

Published June 26, 2015 at 10:23 AM PDT

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The lobby and KSFC as of June 23, 2015

Spokane Public Radio

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The Dodson’s Jewelers “North Pole” has the refurbished trap doors closing the hole between floors.";s:3:

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The empty KPBZ studio. The final fundraising stage for the equipment is underway.

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The Performing Arts studio floor is polished up.

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The KPBX Studio acts as the prep room for work in the adjoining Performing Arts Studio.

Jessica Robinson and Tom Banse check out the woodwork of the sealed hole of the Wyncote Foundation South Pole while other Northwest Network News reporters look on.

The fire poles are back! During renovation of Spokane Public Radio’s future home, the historic Fire Station No. 3, crews removed the two front brass poles. They were carefully replaced and reinforced with steel centers and the tops fitted with bracket supports.

The Wyncote Foundation “South Pole” is sealed at the level of the ceiling (or second story floor if you prefer), the Dodson’s Jewelers “North Pole” is exactly as Spokane firefighters remember it, with the original safety trap doors separating levels.

Major construction on the historic Fire Station No. 3 at 1229 N. Monroe is just finishing up. Where fire trucks used to park is now a lobby and a broadcast studio for the KSFC news and information station. In the back part of the building, where firemen built the city’s fire-fighting apparatus, the acoustics are being fine-tuned for the organization’s Performance and Recording Hall and the KPBX broadcast studio. Upstairs where firemen slept and stored their gear now stand administrative offices and volunteer work stations.

Each of the three SPR radio services (KPBX, KSFC, and KPBZ) are fitted with power outlets, cable jacks, and counter space. The main thing missing: the broadcast equipment that we are working on funding now.

“To outfit these new studios, we need to bring our technology up to date,” says SPR General Manager Cary Boyce. “Much of the software we have used to maintain and manage our on-air services is being phased out, and we need machines with more operating capacity to modernize and stay current with today’s broadcast technology.”

In June, crews for Walker Construction have worked on the details of the building, such as electrical outlets and molding. The studios, including the KSFC studio shown here, are almost ready to receive broadcasting equipment.

SPR’s move from the Hoban Building, KPBX’s home for the past 35 years, offers an excellent opportunity to upgrade equipment. New computers will enable SPR’s broadcast engineers to switch locations more efficiently and minimize downtime.

The stations will move to the new building in stages this year; the timeline depends on how quickly the equipment can be purchased and installed. As the move begins, information and photos will be posted at spokanepublicradio.org/moving.

The final fundraising stage for the equipment and its installation is underway. Named Gift Opportunities are still available, from engraved courtyard tiles to naming a broadcast studio. For more information on leaving a lasting legacy for “A Sound Future,” please contact Cary Boyce at (509) 328-5729 or cboyce@kpbx.org.