Close of Construction and Capital Campaign Signal a New Era for KQED

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IS THE CENTERPIECE OF KQED’S REDESIGNED HEADQUARTERS, WHICH ALSO FEATURES UPGRADES TO THE STATION’S BROADCAST AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE

LAUNCHED IN 2013, CAMPAIGN 21 HAS FUNDED THE REMODEL AND ACCELERATED THE GROWTH OF THE STATION’S LOCAL REPORTING AND CONTENT TEAMS TO BETTER SERVE BAY AREA AUDIENCE NEEDS

KQED, the NPR and PBS member station serving Northern California, announced the completion of major construction of the redesign of its San Francisco headquarters. Construction on the project began in fall 2019. This news coincides with the successful close of Campaign 21, an eight-year fundraising campaign that financed the project and accelerated growth over the past decade of KQED’s reporting and content teams and services.

“We are a primary source of information for the entire Bay Area,” says KQED President and CEO Michael Isip. “Our spectacular home features technology that expands our capabilities to provide trusted and quality content, a work environment that will enable the best talent in public media to thrive, and spaces where we can build community for bold conversations, civic engagement and cultural experiences.”

Designed by the award-winning San Francisco-based architects EHDD, the project has transformed the station’s 2601 Mariposa Street headquarters into a vibrant, accessible state-of-the-art center for civic and cultural engagement and locally-focused journalism. EHDD’s design increases the station’s visibility to the public; maximizes space with flexibility to accommodate staff, partners and additional growth; and features new community spaces that enable the audiences to engage with KQED on site through events, media-making and community building.

The facility features upgrades to the station’s decades-old broadcast and technological infrastructure to improve services, ensure continuity of service during major emergencies, and position the station for the constantly evolving future of broadcasting. Aging video and audio cabling and equipment have been replaced with a cutting-edge network to support the work of the newsroom and content makers. Modernized production and studio spaces incorporate the most up-to-date technology to secure KQED’s ability to provide trusted, quality programming where, when and how Bay Area audiences want it.

Civic convening and public participation are core to KQED’s mission and the new building. The Commons is a 232-seat event space and studio that is the setting for KQED Live, a new in-person and streaming live event series. Featuring a diverse series of conversations, performances, screenings and experiences hosted by KQED personalities, audiences have already enjoyed an evening with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, discussions with KQED reporters about the California housing crisis and police misconduct, a night devoted to Bay Area ghost stories, and more.

KQED has also launched the PRX Podcast Garage at KQED, a dedicated space and program that enables podcast producers to gather and build community, learn about podcasting and make their own. The PRX Podcast Garage at KQED has now hosted the first events in a series of regular workshops on the art and business of audio. Other spaces and opportunities for public engagement in the building, including a 20-seat community meeting room and a public tour program, will commence in 2022.

Full Scope of Campaign 21
The $94 million building redesign is made possible by Campaign 21, a capital campaign launched in 2013 to address KQED’s aging infrastructure and transform the station from a traditional broadcaster into a digital-multimedia service and community convener. Nearly 5,000 individual donors contributed to the campaign, which raised approximately $140 million, surpassing the $135 million campaign goal. In addition to building investments, Campaign 21 has enabled strategic investments in local news, arts, science, education services, plus digital production, distribution and infrastructure.

With Campaign 21 contributions, the station has been able to make the following strategic investments:

• The redesign of KQED’s headquarters, which modernizes the station's entire broadcast and technology infrastructure while creating new spaces and opportunities for community engagement, including The Commons and the PRX Podcast Garage at KQED and more.
• The expansion of KQED’s newsroom and its enhanced capacity to deliver local and statewide coverage. Investments have established local Politics and Government, Silicon Valley and Housing news desks; expanded coverage through weekends; and increased breaking news and investigative coverage.
• The growth of KQED’s science and environmental media unit — now one of the largest on the West Coast — providing daily reporting on science and health research, climate change and the environment, as well as producing the internationally popular and award-winning Deep Look YouTube series.
• A dedicated arts and culture multimedia unit that produces compelling stories for radio, television and digital, exploring and celebrating the creativity and diversity of Bay Area arts and culture, including the ongoing video series If Cities Could Dance and podcast series Right
• Nationally recognized digital-education services KQED Learn and KQED Teach online platforms that promote media literacy through tools and curriculums for youth, teachers and caregivers. The Education group also produces Above the Noise, a YouTube video series for teens that investigates controversial subject matter to help young viewers draw their own informed conclusions while inspiring media literacy and civic engagement.
• An expanded digital presence enabling KQED content to be delivered to audiences in the way they prefer: through our website, mobile app or via podcasts and video.

“Campaign 21 has accelerated growth in our programming, services and staff in ways we never could have done otherwise,” adds Isip. “These strategic investments make KQED a model for responsible and responsive independent local media and ensure that generations of Bay Area residents can count on KQED to provide trusted information and news, high-quality programming and education tools and live experiences.”

About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source, leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas. www.kqed.org

About EHDD
Founded in 1946, EHDD's appreciation for the past and compelling interest in what lies ahead is evidenced in their work: EHDD is designing a collectively greater future for their clients, society and the environment. Valuing collaboration and mutualism, they champion the missions of their clients. They seek to understand and design in harmony with the client's vision because, like their clients, they are keenly attuned to how the space will be experienced. EHDD seeks to create built environments that enhance our culture, honor the natural environment, and respect and delight the people who use them. Headquartered in San Francisco, EHDD serves clients around the world in Civic and Workplace, Higher Education, Museums, Science Centers, Aquariums, K-12, Science & Technology, and Multi-family Residential. EHDD is a Top 10 AIA COTE honoree, and featured in "The Habits of High-Performance Firms, Lessons from frequent winners of the AIA COTE Top Ten Award, 1997-2016." www.ehdd.com