Running the Survey

With growth in its market and technological advances, KWCH needed to upgrade and expand its newsroom and provide a quality work environment while facilitating staff collaboration. With ever-changing technology and need for flexibility, the newsroom was designed with a raised computer flooring to allow easy changes to accommodate future advances along with a secondary benefit to deliver heating and air conditioning efficiently. Phasing was critical for the staff to avoid interruptions or surprises. We developed a comprehensive phasing plan and worked flawlessly to ensure their mission-critical needs were met.

Laying the Foundation

With an owner who truly believed in the Design-Build Teamwork approach, we assembled a team to help deliver the dream. Working from several renditions of various ideas, concepts and budgets, the owner landed on the solution and off we went. We established a guaranteed maximum price early in the design phase to give the owner the confidence to move forward. As always, safety on projects while working around occupied buildings and equipment is paramount. A site-specific safety plan was developed and carried out to ensure everyone was able to go home safely. Part of that plan involved using a crane to set very large, heavy pre-cast concrete wall and roof panels. With guy wires and a KWCH broadcast tower nearby, special attention was needed to avoid potential catastrophe.

The Finishing Touches

With unrivaled quality, the building was delivered on time and under budget. The newsroom in particular is a tremendous centerpiece for KWCH, giving the staff a spacious and comfortable work environment. The tall ceilings and indirect lighting lend to the openness and in turn support a collaborative environment where staff can freely interact with one another, yet maintain personal work spaces. Interior and exterior windows allow natural light into the environment as well as allow staff to maintain visual contact with reporters and photographers to enable a quicker response for breaking news events.