Courier

Media Credit: Art Lemus The new home of KPCC, the Mohn Broadcast Center, is located on Raymond Avenue.

After three decades of broadcasting from the PCC campus, public radio station KPCC has made a move that drastically changed the environment of its operation. Last month, KPCC studios moved to a new $27-million state-of- the-art broadcast center at 474 S. Raymond Ave.

The 35,000-square-foot Mohn Broadcast Center is a major upgrade from the facilities KPCC occupied on the PCC campus. The building itself, a modern contemporary design, is split into two sections separated by a soon-to-be-completed lobby.

The north end of the building is the broadcast center consisting of two floors. The ground floor incorporates the broadcast studios and production rooms, equipped with state-of-the-art recording, broadcasting, and editing hardware.

The second floor now centralizes both KPCC and Southern California Public Radio staff members. SCPR had until recently worked out of a location on Figueroa in Los Angeles. This floor incorporates administration, reporters, and HR.

Larry Mantel, a 27-year veteran and host of Air Talk said it is, "technically a work in progress. I am very excited to have a great new studio that provides me with a 24-hour CNN feed, state of the art broadcasting capabilities, and a spacious studio for guests."

The new building has many technological advantages, staff staff members say. The old studios were equipped with analog equipment, but the transition makes KPCC fully digital.

"The move was not totally smooth," said Director of Broadcasting Doug Johnson. "There's have been some growing pains largely because of the complete digital transition;" Johnson said.

"Technically we are now using equipment that is as current as it can possibly be. Learning for, hours and hours of training on new equipment make for a slight learning curve".

In addition to the broadcast center, the new building includes the Crawford family forum, named after Gordon and Dona Crawford, one of many major contributors who made this new building possible.

This new forum will be the home of future town hall meeting, live broadcasts, and an array of possibilities.

KPCC employees say after so many years of broadcasting from the PCC campus, employees are aware of the drastic change.

"This new building marks a breakthrough for public radio in southern California. We all love what we have here, but the college atmosphere is something that cannot be replaced," said Program Director Craig Curtis. "Everyone loved being around the campus, students, and not to mention the great places to eat that surround the campus."

After 27 years on the PCC campus Mantel expressed similar feelings.

"I absolutely loved working on the PCC campus. I really enjoyed the interaction with students, faculty, and staff," Mantel said.

As for the future of the vacant premises in the Shatford Library, this is something that is still undetermined.

"PCC is currently performing space planning for the eventual use of the former KPCC facility," said Richard P. van Pelt, interim vice president, administrative services.

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