February 1, 2013

Contact: Dana Davis Rehm, NPR

NEW NPR HEADQUARTERS NEARS COMPLETION

DC-BASED STAFF CONSOLIDATED IN ONE BUILDING
FROM THREE SEPARATE LOCATIONS

After nearly two decades at 635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, in Washington, D.C., NPR will relocate its headquarters this spring to 1111 North Capitol Street, NE, in the NoMA (North of Massachusetts Avenue) neighborhood, a designated business improvement district. The building's construction, which began three years ago, was completed in December and the interior will be finished by mid-February. Following several weeks of testing and training on new broadcast, digital, and production equipment, NPR staff will move into the new building in phases beginning in March and concluding in late April.

"Our new headquarters sets the stage for public radio's next leap forward," said Gary E. Knell, NPR President and CEO. "Today, NPR is an essential source of national and international news and cultural programming for millions of radio listeners, and increasingly for those who rely on mobile and web platforms. We are confident that, working in partnership with our Member stations, we will set the standard for the next generation of journalism and audio storytelling from this new home."

The new NPR headquarters comprises two integrated blocks: the bulk of a historically preserved four-story 1920's era warehouse and a new, modern seven-story office block that rises behind. Designed by the Washington D.C.-based architectural firm Hickok Cole, and built by Balfour Beatty Construction, the building contains approximately 330,000 square feet of above-grade space and 440,000 total square feet. It will accommodate NPR's DC-based staff of approximately 767 that is currently spread across three buildings – 635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, and two nearby leased locations.

The heart of the building is a two-story open newsroom with broadcast and production studios to accommodate NPR's round-the-clock schedule. NPR's news, music, programming and digital staff are co-located on these floors. In addition to serving as center for NPR's operations, the building is also home to the Public Radio Satellite System, an independent distribution system that moves public radio content across the country.

Visitors will enter the building through a landscaped plaza. Upon entering they will find an exhibit and a multimedia mosaic dedicated to NPR's story, a performance studio that seats up to 250, and the NPR Commons, an events space for small groups and site of the NPR Shop. NPR expects to host many public events in the new headquarters.

The 1111 North Capitol building is expected to earn LEED Gold certification; environmentally sensitive features include a green roof and highly efficient cooling system to support energy conservation, and a system that captures street run-off within the tree-pits adjacent to North Capitol Street.

NPR established its current headquarters at 635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, in 1994, before Gallery Place became a prime development zone and popular destination. Since then, NPR’s stature as a media organization and its popularity have grown rapidly and its weekly audience doubled.

NPR sold its 635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, building at the market's peak in 2008 and entered into a lease-back arrangement with the buyer, Boston Properties, which provided development management services of the new building for NPR. The real estate transaction was named “Best Deal of the Year” by the Washington Business Journal at their 2008 Real Estate Awards.

NPR has been located in Washington, D.C., since it was founded in 1970.

About NPR: NPR is an award-winning, multimedia news organization that reaches 26 million radio listeners each week, and nearly 20 million people monthly on digital platforms. In collaboration with more than 900 independent public radio stations nationwide, NPR strives to provide the public with a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures. To find local stations and broadcast times, visit www.npr.org/stations