WFYI Public Broadcasting Outgrows its ‘Old House’. Station acquires former Vectren headquarters on North Meridian; and is poised for growth in the digital age.

February 26, 2007
Contact: communications@ihets.org

WFYI Public Broadcasting has announced that it has acquired Vectren’s former Indianapolis headquarters (1630 North Meridian Street), and intends to relocate to its new home by year’s end. The acquisition of the 94,000 square foot facility marks a capstone in WFYI’s $15.3 million Capital Campaign for the Future, affording the station plenty of opportunities for future growth and expansion for years to come. The move will place Indiana’s flagship PBS and NPR stations in the heart of one of Indianapolis’ most vibrant revitalization zones along the North Meridian and 16th Street corridors.

“Near North is pleased to be working with WFYI Public Broadcasting on their relocation project,” said Amy Kotzbauer, president of Near North Development Corporation. “WFYI’s new home sits uniquely at the intersection of two FOCUS (Fostering Urban Commercial Strategies) corridors — Meridian Street and 16th Street. FOCUS initiatives are designed to jumpstart commercial development in urban neighborhoods and to create dynamic models for community-based revitalization efforts.”

“WFYI’s new home will serve as a center for civic and cultural engagement by providing us with a spacious volunteer center and ample collaboration space for the station’s community partners,” said Lloyd Wright, WFYI’s president & CEO. “The new facility will also allow us to bring our entire staff together under one roof and enable WFYI to realize its full potential as an educational broadcaster in the digital age.”

WFYI outgrew its current home in the 1400 block of North Meridian nearly a decade ago, forcing the public broadcaster to allocate space for its radio station, communications department and marketing division, in an adjacent building (also owned by WFYI) just north of its main facility. With the acquisition of Vectren’s former headquarters, WFYI Public Broadcasting will at last be able to unite its 89 member staff and numerous public broadcasting services under one roof. In addition to serving as Indianapolis’ home for PBS and NPR programming, WFYI is a catalyst for lifelong learning opportunities; a full-service broadcast production facility; and a provider of statewide reading services for Indiana’s print-impaired citizens.

WFYI has retained the services of Shiel Sexton and Ratio Architects to design and construct two television studios at its new home. The studios will be designed for high-definition broadcasts and program productions, enabling WFYI Public Television to complete the final stages of its transition into digital television. The new facility will also house state-of-the art radio studios for FM 90.1 (NPR) and IRIS — WFYI’s free statewide reading service for Indiana’s print-impaired citizens.

As a trusted catalyst for lifelong learning, WFYI Public Broadcasting engages and enriches the Central Indiana community through distinctive public television and radio services. For more information on WFYI’s programming and educational outreach services, visit wfyi.org.