You get into your car, hit the ignition and tune into your favorite radio station. It keeps you company while you run errands or drive to work. It might provide you with entertainment and information. Numerous commercial stations are available across the FM spectrum. Many sound pretty much the same — pop tunes, sports talk, lots of advertising, maybe an occasional newscast.
But two choices, both non-commercial stations, are unlike anything else on the FM dial. WGUC-FM 90.9 offers classical music 24/7, while WVXU-FM 91.7 (and WMUB-FM 88.5) provide a steady menu of public affairs and news, local and international, including National Public Radio (NPR) — no ads, just occasional announcements that mention companies and organizations that support programming. Both stations are operated by Cincinnati Public Radio (CPR).
For years, much of local public radio has been hidden away on the second floor of a downtown building on Central Parkway, the Crosley Telecommunications Center, owned by WCET, Cincinnati’s PBS TV station. CPR’s stations have been all but physically invisible. As tenants, they were landlocked, despite steady growth, and increasingly crowded for space. That’s changed dramatically this spring.
As April winds down, CPR’s stations have begun to provide programming from a new, $32 million headquarters facility, designed specifically with their broadcast and recording missions in mind. Located at 2117 Dana Avenue in Evanston, the Scripps Family Center for Public Media is today home to a cadre of skilled broadcast professionals, news reporters and recording artists. They aim to supplement, serve and respond to the listening and informational needs of residents of Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, and Dayton, Ohio.
Origins
These non-commercial stations trace their origins back to local universities. WGUC began providing classical music programming in 1960 at the University of Cincinnati, with its first studios at the College-Conservatory of Music’s Emery Hall. In 1971 it was a charter member of National Public Radio, adding the flagship news program, “All Things Considered,” to its broadcast offerings. It moved to the Crosley Telecommunications Center at 1223 Central Parkway in 1980. In 1994, UC handed over operations to a “community licensee,” Cincinnati Public Radio (CPR). In 2002, UC’s license was formally assigned to CPR.
Xavier University’s closed-circuit, student-run station started in the basement of Alter Hall. In 1970, it entered the airwaves as WVXU. Its eclectic programming included old-time radio comedies and dramas, jazz and swing music, and local call-in talk shows. In 1981, thanks to an agreement with WGUC, it became Cincinnati’s second NPR affiliate and began carrying “Morning Edition.” In 1986, it converted a one-time U.S. Shoe building on Herald Avenue on the edge of campus into its new studios. In the 1990s, it disseminated programming via the X-Star Radio Network to nearly a dozen translator frequencies across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. When Xavier University put the station’s license on the market in 2005, CPR acquired it for $15 million.
That made possible two broadcast streams for CPR, with WGUC providing an all-classical music format and WVXU delivering around-the-clock news and public affairs programs. CPR hired Maryanne Zeleznik in 2005 as its news director. She had spent two decades overseeing news at WNKU, another NPR affiliate licensed to Northern Kentucky University. (NKU sold WNKU to a religious broadcaster in 2017.)
Miami University’s WMUB signed on in 1950 as a 10-watt training facility staffed by broadcasting majors. It eventually became another regional NPR station, serving Oxford, eastern Indiana, Dayton and its northern suburbs. In 2009, Miami agreed to have CPR operate WMUB, which now shares WVXU’s programming with those listeners.
Finding a suitable location
To learn more about CPR’s plans and decisions for its new location, CityBeat sat down with members of the team, including management and board leadership, broadcasters, architects and engineers.
Serving audiences with two broadcast streams, CPR delivered its offerings from the crowded rental space on Central Parkway. Rich Eiswerth, CPR’s president and CEO since 1998, said, “When we moved into the Crosley Telecommunications Center [in 1980], we were just one station. When we acquired WVXU [in 2005], we more than doubled our staff, plus we were getting involved in online streaming. With all the additional responsibilities and staff, we had literally run out of space and were putting people in converted closets.”
Through careful financial management, by 2020, CPR paid off the loan it undertook for the purchase of WVXU — five years ahead of schedule. But there was no room to expand on Central Parkway. Conversations began to consider options for a new headquarters location. General priorities were proximity to Cincinnati Music Hall (WGUC records and airs concerts by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and performances by Cincinnati Opera), City Hall (where WVXU reporters cover local government activities) and downtown Cincinnati in general. Parking for staff and visitors was also desired.
In 2018, a site on Plum Street north of Cincinnati City Hall seemed to address many of these needs for a price tag of $1.5 million. However, further research unearthed problems with the site that promised to double the expense. Architectural plans for a three-story building were put on hold.
Eiswerth explained, “When the City Hall lot became unfeasible, we looked around at real estate and began negotiations and stumbled on a lot in Evanston.” Developer Dan Neyer helped CPR acquire land that had served as a parking lot at 2117 Dana Avenue in Neyer Properties’ Keystone Park development. His experience with several nonprofits, including the Cincinnati Ballet’s new location on Gilbert Avenue, enabled CPR to obtain the property at 30 percent below its list price. It was a site without the logistical complications that made the City Hall site unsuitable.
Most of CPR’s wishes were met. Evanston, off the I-71 Dana Avenue exit, is just minutes from downtown. It’s close to Xavier University — in fact, barely a mile from the site of the old WVXU studio building on Herald Avenue. It offers ample free parking for staff and visitors. Awareness of CPR will be enhanced since the building is clearly visible from the highway.
CPR’s website lists additional benefits. “We’re excited about additional and updated studio spaces, including a professional recording studio for local musicians and a public podcast booth. We’ll have event space for more than 100 guests, so we can host concerts, debates, classroom visits and events with other non-profits. … This new building exponentially increases CPR’s ability to connect with our audience and to welcome new audiences in to learn more about what public radio offers.”
CPR already partners with numerous arts organizations and universities for performances and live broadcasts, in addition to educational offerings such as Classics for Kids and Democracy & Me. The intention with the new facility is to do even more, including hosting debates and roundtable discussions of broad public interest. “Our job is to amplify the arts and inform the community,” the website statement says, “and in this new facility, we can do both better.”
The three-story building plan for the City Hall site devised by architects at Emersion Design was rethought for a spacious two-story structure in Evanston with numerous windows and open space. Eiswerth and the CPR board of directors, led by business leaders Mu Sinclaire and Otto M. Budig Jr., had specific notions for the new headquarters, and they quickly approved Emersion’s approach. “We wanted to emphasize natural, open and airy,” Eiswerth said. “We came up with a design that everybody fell in love with.”
Intentional design and mass timber
Emersion Design architect Adam Luginbill recalled, “When this opportunity [in Evanston] came along, we really came in with fresh eyes. We had learned a lot from a functional standpoint [from the design work undertaken for the City Hall site]. We had a kind of trial run, and we knew the ‘personality’ of the project, so we could be more intentional.” Once the design was decided, Luginbill proposed a new concept: “Did you ever consider mass timber?” Eiswerth’s response: “I had no idea what they were talking about.” But he learned quickly.
In place of traditional steel-and-concrete construction, mass timber uses large solid wooden panels and beams engineered for strong, structural use. It offers an array of benefits that fit with CPR’s vision of innovation and aesthetic appeal. Because building materials could be prefabricated, faster construction times were possible, and some costs were reduced.
The Black Spruce wood used for mass timber is a renewable resource. As the trees are harvested in northern Canada at the end of their growth life, new trees are seeded. Since trees store carbon, when used for construction, the carbon remains stored, reducing a building’s carbon footprint.
“What drew us to mass timber was a great value,” Luginbill explained. “It brought wood and other natural materials into the building, and it wasn’t something that we could have done with steel, which is cold. Mass timber could bring a duplication of finishes, layered on.”
Eiswerth liked the concept immediately. “I didn’t need to be convinced. It melded so well into the initial design, the glass and the openness.” The board’s executive committee met with Emersion Design’s team and quickly approved the new plan. Even with the slight premium expense for mass timber materials, “There was no hesitation,” Luginbill said. “They were really sold on all the advantages.”
One of the first mass timber buildings in Ohio, CPR’s new headquarters is the first in Greater Cincinnati. It’s also likely the first broadcast facility in the country built with mass timber.
There were pragmatic reasons for using mass timber, but there were subtler benefits. The visual and tactile appeal of natural wood gives CPR’s new headquarters a biophilic impact. That term describes an inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature and other forms of life. Beams, wall panels and a statuesque central stairwell have created an environment that’s warm and comfortable for staff members as well as visitors.
Ground was broken in Evanston in August 2023, and the now-occupied building has earned LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It has incorporated water and energy efficiency, high indoor air quality, and thoughtful material choices. Radiant heating and cooling systems provide comfort levels throughout the building with temperatures regulated by warm or cool water tubing embedded in the floors, which enables the large volume of overhead air to adjust naturally. With no need for forced air, ambient noise is diminished. It allows fresh outside air into the building and regulates CO2 levels. Air filters reduce pollutants. Future plans, when the budget allows, are for a green roof with solar panels to offset some of the building’s energy demand.
Luginbill said, “It has been a real joy to work on this once-in-a-lifetime project. It’s been really interesting because of the specialized needs of the building — acoustical, for instance.” He cites the complex system of three walls surrounding the box that contains a large recording studio to protect against sound and vibrations from nearby I-71. These walls and thick glass create layers of separation that make it completely soundproof. Sound simulations have ensured that the insulation works.
Sinclaire, chair of CPR’s board of directors, said, “A lot of these seeds germinated a long time ago. We’ve reenergized, and we’re in good shape. Radio has never done this before. I think we have done it very effectively, and we’re two-thirds of the way there” to the project’s $32 million price tag. He’s certain that the building can land the necessary funding for the project. “You can see not only the vision but the reality. The old place [on Central Parkway] was one-dimensional, the signal was going out, but you could hardly do anything internally. Now it’s multi-dimensional — a podcast studio, the gathering spaces that can accommodate as many as 120 people. It’s very inviting, and there’s free parking!”
State-of-the-art facilities for music and news gathering
CPR’s new building is a showplace of thoughtful design. With 32,000 square feet of space, it doubles the capacity of the Central Parkway facility. That includes approximately 11,000 square feet of space devoted to staff, providing flexibility for growth — especially in the news area. There’s plenty of space for work to be done, surrounded by windows and fresh air.
CPR’s tools and technology will enable productive interaction with the community in ways not previously possible. The stations won’t sound different and programming will continue unchanged, but the ability to produce meaningful content for both WVXU and pleasing musical programming for WGUC has expanded significantly.
The crown jewel of the facility is its technologically sophisticated professional recording studio, which does not yet have a sponsor’s name. It’s three times larger than WGUC’s 45-year-old Corbett Studio at the Crosley Telecommunications Center. Larger ensembles can record there or perform live for an in-studio audience. All of CPR’s new studios are video-enabled for recorded and live-streaming events.
Joel Crawford, recording and mastering engineer, said, “Our vision is really being a resource for this community and the music scene in Cincinnati. … Everything in this space is high-end, the best possible equipment that we can get for our budget.” Production Director Stephen Baum is excited by all the possibilities the studio offers. “Building from the ground up,” he said, “made a major difference. You do it once and you do it right — you’re never going to have to do it again.”
Two modern, well-equipped on-air studios, one for each station, will be where daily programs and newscasts originate. A studio spacious enough to host multiple guests for locally originated programs such as “Cincinnati Edition,” hosted at noon Monday through Friday by Lucy May, is adjacent to WVXU’s air studio, which is named for donor Charles D. Berry. Staff members will have access to four sound booths for recording and editing, double the number available in the former location.
This state-of-the-art facility is already attracting and retaining top-notch talent similar to Baum and Crawford.
“This is what our community deserves,” according to Conrad Thiede, CPR’s director of major and planned giving. “Having talent like this here in Cincinnati, not just for us but for the community, is just incredible. I imagine that they will be here for the long haul.”
An opening for another recording engineer was announced recently, and more than 20 applications arrived on day one, including one from Italy and one from China.
Public spaces — in and out
“The most important change will be CPR’s ability to bring the radio community we have built across six decades into its new space for debates, concerts, educational programs, station events and more,” said Eiswerth. “We’ll be reaching out to the public, and that’s really important to us. The building’s indoor gathering space can accommodate as many as 120 people for events, performances, lectures and debates. Sitting directly outside and visible from the professional recording studio, that space adds a layer of involvement not previously possible.”
Just west of the new building is a terraced outdoor area, directly adjacent to the Evanston Park and Playground Recreation area. There have already been conversations with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission about programming there, co-hosted by CPR and, in some cases, broadcast to the larger community.
Another sort of public access will be made possible by the new Greater Cincinnati Foundation Podcast Booth, adjacent to CPR’s attractive, two-story Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr., Foundation Lobby with a mobile designed by Brazee Glass Studios in Oakley using multi-colored glass inspired by CPR’s multicolored logo. Use of the professionally equipped podcast booth is free of charge during business hours for anyone who completes a training session.
On the air
Elaine Diehl, who has hosted WGUC’s midday music programming since 2016, is looking forward to “spaciousness, fresh air, more room. All lighter and sunnier. I love the mass timber beams.” She expressed excitement for live music that can be performed, recorded and broadcast. The one-time WNKU announcer works with community leaders such as Cincinnati Opera’s Evans Mirageas for previews and Cincinnati Zoo’s Thane Maynard, who records his “90-Second Naturalist” in a CPR studio. The large new recording studio, she said, can accommodate “eight, ten, twelve musicians — ensembles not possible in the past.” She looks forward to the outside space and parties in the adjacent park. (Diehl led the popular local band Elaine & the Biscaynes back in the 1980s.)
“Anybody can play [a recording of] Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony,” Diehl pointed out, “but we’ll be able to do more live and more local. We’ll talk to people who come in to conduct and perform with the Cincinnati Symphony. We’ll be telling people what an incredible city we have, so much art and culture. I feel really super lucky to be involved.”
When Zeleznik, WVXU’s news director and “Morning Edition” host, was asked what she most looked forward to, she said, “It’s a silly thing, but it’s windows!” Being able to see outdoors from her broadcast studio means she can actually see the weather. “I get to work at 4 a.m. when it’s still dark. The windows in the new building are everywhere, and they are amazing.”
More seriously, Zeleznik is immensely pleased that her news team of a dozen reporters will have collaborative, comfortable workstations. “Room for growth was a consideration. Initially, we will have more space than we need. We hope to increase the size of our staff. When I started here [in 2005] we had five. Now it’s 12, plus a pair of reporters from the Ohio Newsroom whose home base is in Cincinnati.” She mentions the Berry studio where “Cincinnati Edition” can now accommodate multiple guests. “We can also take it downstairs,” she adds, “and have a live audience in the gathering space.”
The nerve center for both stations is a complex server room on the second level, the pride and joy of Don Danko, vice president of engineering. Chief Engineer Will Staffan said, “At Central Parkway, there were thousands of cables. Remodeling had resulted in a confusing maze. Being able to start fresh here is a big plus. You might have three devices in one box now.” Staffan’s focus is keeping the stations on the air without interruption. “We’re getting all state-of-the-art equipment, which will help us deliver a better product for our listeners.”
Visionary words
Emersion Design architect Nikki Goldstein observed, “It’s been incredibly special to design a building that is emblematic of this organization’s mission. It’s repeated throughout the design in a lot of ways. The wood and the warmth really say this is a place where the public can come in. It’s warm and inviting.” The design team is excited to see what can be done with the result, especially the public spaces. “We asked them, ‘What do you guys want to do? Do you want to do concerts? Do you want to do lectures? Do you want to do events?’ And they said, ‘True! All those things.’” She added, “It was really cool to see everyone come together and settle on that plan.” The goal of the design was to physically embrace CPR’s mission.
Susan MacDonald, a freelance writer and former Enquirer reporter, chairs CPR’s Community Advisory Board. In a video comment on the website, she said, “When I walked into this building … the size and the expanse and the openness is what really touched me. And the warmth. I’ve never been in a mass timber building before and the color of the wood and the arches and the space is just a very welcoming open place. … As someone who used to be in the newspaper business and still follows the media today, we need this kind of … open place for conversations and talking about issues and solving problems, so it’s just a very impressive space.”
WVXU’s Zeleznik said, “Don’t expect the stations to sound differently on the air. But we’ll be even more engaged in the community.” WGUC’s Diehl added, “Public radio is about one-on-one conversations. We just chat with listeners, people who often know as much — or more — about the music than we do.”
It’s a new era for Cincinnati Public Radio. It’s evident that WGUC, WVXU and WMUB, building on a firm foundation, will be able to do even more to enrich our community.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s April 30 print edition.
This article appears in Apr 30 – May 13, 2025.