KANU Radio is getting a big present for its 50th birthday a new building.
Kansas University's public radio station will break ground in early March for a $1.5 million building north of Memorial Stadium.
"We think it's neat it's happening in our 50th year," said Janet Campbell, general manager. "We'll start year 51 in a new facility."
The three-story, 9,000-square-foot building will be adjacent to the Baehr Audio-Reader Center north of West Hills Terrace and Colonial Court. Crews will raze the garage north of the Audio-Reader Center to make way for the building.
Construction should be complete by the end of the year.
Campbell, who also serves as director for Audio Reader, a service that has volunteers who read books, magazines and newspapers for the visually impaired, said the two staffs work together often, with many technicians and other workers splitting their time between the two departments.
"We realized we could be a lot more efficient if we were together," she said.
The radio station has about two dozen staffers.
Campbell said one highlight of the new KANU building would be a live performance area able to accommodate larger groups. The current space barely accommodates a grand piano, she said.
"You get things out of a live performance that you can't get out of a CD to hear the musician play and then talk about what they've played," she said.
KANU's development office, located in Carruth-O'Leary Hall, also will move to the new building to be with the rest of the KANU offices. The new building also will be handicapped accessible something KANU's current building, the 5,000-square-foot Broadcasting Hall, isn't.
Campbell said KU officials are undecided how to use Broadcasting Hall when it is vacated.
Two donors contributed the $1.5 million for the project through the Kansas University Endowment Association. Campbell declined to identify the donors until the gifts are announced by the Endowment Association.
KANU first went on the air Sept. 15, 1952. Officials are planning events throughout the station's birthday year, including live performances and an on-air historical series.
The station also is expanding its geographic area. Within 60 days, it will begin sending a signal from Emporia, and officials are considering adding a signal tower in Manhattan.
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