NEWS

FEBRUARY.2007
WALTER CRONKITE TAKES FIRST DIG AT GROUNDBREAKING



Sporting a shiny new hard hat and clutching a large shovel, legendary newsman Walter Cronkite digs into the dirt commemorating the groundbreaking of ASU's new Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix, Arizona.

The 223,000-square-foot, $71 million complex which will be located on the northern end of ASU's downtown campus, will open in fall 2008. The Cronkite School will occupy 102,000 square feet and will include newsrooms, computer labs, TV studios, classrooms, offices and an auditorium.

Eight/KAET, Arizona's PBS affiliate, also will occupy 76,000 square feet in the new building. The broadcasting facility will be fully-equipped with studios, production and audio control rooms, a transmission center, offices and conference rooms.

Retail will also be included on the ground floor.

The architecture is specifically expressive of function and materiality. The exterior materials enclosing the structure will include abundant glass, metal panels and masonry. The composition is kinetic and dynamic - symbolic of journalism and the media's role in our open society.

The project is a design-build endeavor funded by the City of Phoenix and Arizona State University and is led by Design Architects Steven Ehrlich Architects, Executive Architects HDR Architecture Inc. and SUNDT Construction Inc.

Images from the ceremony can be viewed at this website under Studio/Events.