New NPR Headquarters Nears Completion

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, February 1, 2013 | 10:21am CT

After nearly two decades on 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 has been located in Washington, D.C., since it was founded in 1970.