Cincinnati Public Radio to ‘welcome’ community to new Evanston home

Cincinnati Public Radio will officially open its new headquarters in Evanston this weekend, marking a milestone for the organization and the local media community.

Located at 2117 Dana Ave., the 35,000-square-foot facility in Evanston houses Cincinnati Public Radio’s stations 91.7 WVXU, 90.9 WGUC and 88.5 WMUB. The $32 million building includes two on-air studios, two interview studios, a performance studio and 11,000 square feet of office space. It also features a public gathering space and a terraced outdoor plaza designed for community events.

To celebrate the opening, Cincinnati Public Radio will host a Welcome Weekend on April 26 and 27, offering family-friendly activities, performances, food trucks, a petting zoo and tours of the new building.

Richard Eiswerth, president and CEO of Cincinnati Public Radio, said the new building reflects years of planning and support from the community.

“It is wonderful to finally be at the end of this journey and to see this building now full of the people who make Cincinnati Public Radio as special as it is,” Eiswerth said. “The generosity of our community and our listeners is second to none.”

Inside CPR’s new home

The headquarters project was a collaboration among Skanska, Cincinnati Public Radio, emersion DESIGN, Neyer Properties, Schaefer, CMTA and WSDG.

The building is the first mass timber building in Greater Cincinnati and the first mass-timber broadcast facility in the United States. The structure includes 498 pieces of mass timber, erected in 37 days. The team sources the timber from black spruce trees between 80 and 100 years old.

Chris Hopper, executive vice president and general manager for Skanska USA Building, said the project sets a new standard for sustainable construction in the region by using environmentally friendly building materials and design features.

The building’s open design includes extensive use of glass to maximize natural light and emphasizes visibility and accessibility.

Additional features of the facility include free podcast recording studios, arts programming studios and space for community programs, such as Classics for Kids and Democracy & Me, which focus on outreach to children and young adults.

The new space will also host public events such as musical performances, lectures, book signings and community meetings, with the indoor gathering space able to accommodate up to 120 people.

“This headquarters reduces environmental impact while creating an inspiring space for journalism and community engagement,” Hopper said. “We’re proud to see this vision come to life in Evanston.”