Category
New studio or RF technology — station
Submitted by Lawson & Associates Architects Design Team WTXF: Bob Simone, gen. mgr.; Steve James, VP of eng.; Mark Toub, eng. mrg.
Lawson: Bruce Lawson, principal; Carlos Madero, tech dir.; Susan Stine, designer
Beck Associates: Paul Kast, project mgr.
Eastboard Consoles: Steve Goldberg, principal
Keating Building Corporation: Brack Huffman, project mgr. Technology at work Asco transfer switch
Barbizon lighting grid
Caterpillar 1500kW
generator
Data Aire computer
room units
Eastboard console
GE switchgear
IAC acoustically
controlled doors
& windows
Kinetics vibration
isolation floors
Luxar by Glastrosch
studio nonreflective
glass
MGE UPS
Tate raised floor
Trane
Building control sys.
Chillers
Rooftop units
WTXF-TV undertakes a complete building renovation while remaining on-air
WTXF-TV wanted to stay on- air while replacing every inch of its 80,000sq-foot building in downtown Philadelphia. The renovation would mean removing every wall and finish; replacing the roof and existing electrical service; creating a two-story space; and installing satellite uplink platforms, a new technical core, studios, master control, media prep area and in-take, 20-car interior garage, dual 225kVA UPS’s, and a 1500MW generator.
Key elements were decided early on based on cost and necessity. The electrical switchgear for two services were set in the basement along with the new generator and two UPS rooms. A street studio and parking in the building for the ENG vehicles set the first floor, along with reception and HR. The new evening studio needed to be placed on the third and fourth floors to accommodate the clear spans required for the 5000sq-ft space.
The general manager, accounting and sales occupy the fourth floor, with the evening studio, newsroom, an edit and production control room occupying the third floor. A second production control room, equipment room, master control room, engineering offices and promotion occupy the second floor.
In the first phase, the street-front studio was completed to clear out a portion of the basement for new electrical service, and the third and fourth floors were renovated. Next, the remainder of the first and second floors were completed. When the second floor equipment room was finished, the original basement equipment room was demolished, and the basement was completed as the last phase.
On the roof are multiple satellite platforms and two stand-up locations with downtown Philadelphia backdrops. Having a roof reduces the number and size of mechanical spaces in the building. Much of the rooftop equipment feeds the studios and the third and fourth floors.
Another goal was to open up the creative process. An opening in the floor between the third and fourth floors allows the sales, traffic and accounting areas to overlook the newsroom and edit areas. The equipment rooms are filled with glass walls for touring visitors and staff.
For the street studio, an isolation slab was poured for the floor, and multiple glass layers insulate the space from noise and reduce glare. The structure was replaced to create as much height as possible for the ductwork to serve the room.
The third-floor studio required the removal of three columns. Two redundant mechanical units serve the space. All of the walls are designed to isolate and acoustically treat the surface of the walls. The connector strips feed to a fourth floor dimmer room to minimize the wire runs. The bathrooms on the third and fourth floors were moved to accommodate the two-story studio.
