NBC 5 / KXAS-TV has finalized plans for construction of a state-of-the-art broadcasting and multimedia news facility to be located in The CentrePort Business Park, just south of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
The technologically advanced facility is being specifically designed to provide the resources for journalists to collect, interpret and report the news and information most relevant to North Texans 24-hours each day on multiple distribution platforms.
The 75,000-square-foot building will combine NBC 5 facilities currently located in east Fort Worth and Dallas to the 8.1 acre site in Fort Worth. The project developer, KDC, will commence construction at the end of June with completion slated for late 2013.
"We have a long history of local broadcasting firsts and have been operating from our original east Fort Worth studios for 64 years," said Tom Ehlmann, NBC 5 President and General Manager. "As the North Texas area grew, we added a facility in Dallas. Now we will combine operations into one first-class operation to better serve our viewers and advertisers via television, the internet, mobile and still developing technologies."
NBC 5 / KXAS-TV signed-on as WBAP-TV on September 27, 1948 as the first facility in the southwestern U.S. specifically designed for television. Amon G. Carter, Fort Worth Star-Telegram publisher, businessman and civic leader, dedicated the studios that expanded his media business into the exciting new technology of TV.
The new facility will be located at 4805 Amon Carter Boulevard in Fort Worth.
"It's fitting that the facility will be located on a street named in honor of our founder, Amon Carter," said Ehlmann. "We worked closely with the City of Fort Worth to remain in Fort Worth, yet locate in a more centralized location to better serve all the communities of North Texas."
"NBC 5's new facility will be an iconic, long-term institution at CentrePort," said Bill Guthrey, Senior Vice President, KDC. "The NBC Team will be able to take full advantage of the quick access to all parts of the Metroplex and enjoy the many amenities within walking distance."
As part of the agreement to build the new facility in Fort Worth, NBC 5 will convey its current 66,000-square-foot building and 26-acre site in east Fort Worth to the city.
In addition to NBC 5, the new facility will house Telemundo / KXTX-TV and several other smaller businesses associated with NBC Universal, the parent company of NBC 5. A total of approximately 300 people will work at the Amon Carter Boulevard location.
Gary Collett and Matt Heidelbaugh with Cushman & Wakefield were the real estate brokers. Corgan Associates, Inc. is the lead architectural firm.
The CentrePort Business Park is a 1,300 acre master-planned community with a "live-work-play" environment. It is home to more than 70 reputable companies including American Airlines, AT&T, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as 2,000 apartment units and three major hotels. CentrePort also includes 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurants in a pedestrian-friendly design with easy access to the commuter rail line.
ABOUT NBC 5 / KXAS-TVNBC 5 / KXAS-TV is the NBC-owned television station serving the communities of North Texas with quality news and entertainment programming on NBC 5, NBC 5 Nonstop and online at NBCDFW.com.
ABOUT KDCKDC, one of America's leading commercial real estate and investment companies, provides a full range of commercial real estate services including corporate build-to-suit development, acquisitions, corporate facility project/construction management, project financing, asset and land management, and marketing and leasing. KDC is headquartered in Dallas and has offices in Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; and Detroit. For more information, visit kdc.com.
(This post was taken from a press release sent to me by NBC Universal)
