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SPR Fire Station No. 3 by Don HamiltonSpokane Public Radio rehabilitated a historic Spokane treasure, Fire Station No. 3 on North Monroe and Sharp. This community hub has state-of-the-art performing and recording studios. We are in the process of growing the news, arts coverage, and local programing you depend on. Thank you for your gifts to the Moving to a Sound Future project!

Construction and Infrastructure Nearly Finished

The building that once housed the busiest fire crew in the city is almost ready for its new life as the broadcast home of Spokane Public Radio. Over the next several weeks, SPR will complete construction, and finish the long list of final details.

While major construction is finished, details such as filling a gap between a door and the floor take time to complete.

The new facility is on the National Historic Register and has recently been added to the local Spokane Historic Register. Brass fire poles have been restored, the upstairs maple floor refinished, brickwork and windows repaired or replaced, foundation and joists reinforced, and so much more.

Additional fine-tuning must take place before SPR begins its move. Workers are installing the electrical framework for security and additional cable for data and broadcasting.

The most immediate basic digital equipment need is $147,200 (along with $36,800 that will still come in matching funds from the State).  For the technically minded, we need a digital broadcast AoIP studio broadcast infrastructure and digital station automation and audio file storage systems in place before we move our broadcast operations. For the non-technically minded, this stuff keeps us on the air.

It’s an incredibly complex undertaking to move one radio station, let alone three. But plans are in place to move in stages this fall—one station at a time. We expect to have all three program streams moved and operational in November, so there will be plenty of time for testing, working out any issues, completing our move, and celebrating our 36th Anniversary with a Grand Opening in January 2016.

Our thanks go out to Walker Construction, Copeland Architecture, Morrison Construction, and the many craftsmen for their superb work. We’ll have a comprehensive list soon.  And of course our gratitude goes out to the many listeners and supporters who are helping make this ambitious project a reality. It’s just the beginning of a new era of service. Thank you for your support!

- Cary Boyce, President & General Manager

Dr. Cary Boyce (Doctor of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music) was the President and General Manager of Spokane Public Radio from 2012-2024. Before coming to SPR, he was Station Operations Director at WFIU Public Radio licensed to Indiana University. Cary is also an Emmy Award-winning composer (Harp Dreams, PBS special, 2011) whose work involves contemporary music, interdisciplinary arts, and how music relates to our modern world.