Spokane Public Radio
Completed in 2015
Spokane, WA
Contractor: Walker Construction
LEED-NC Silver Certified (v2009)
Adapting an old firehouse sounds like a fun challenge, but when you add the constraints of a nationally registered historic building, state-mandated LEED Silver certification, and the acoustical requirements of a radio broadcast facility, it can become a bit of a puzzle. Thankfully, the folks at Spokane Public Radio, the NPR-affiliate for eastern Washington and northern Idaho, are an easygoing bunch and helped make this a rewarding project. Since the former Fire Station No. 9 was one of the oldest fire stations still around, the radio station partnered with the Spokane Fire Department to archive and exhibit Spokane’s fire-fighting history in the lobby and around the facility. The project includes broadcast space for three distinct stations (KPBX, KSFC, and KPBZ), four isolated recording/mixing rooms, and a 50-seat performance space.