Arizona Public Media Moves into a Space Designed for Storytelling

For more than 50 years, Arizona Public Media (AZPM) operated from a basement space that was never designed for broadcast. Repurposed classrooms and labs served as studios, with infrastructure that made sound isolation and collaboration difficult.

“We made it work for decades, but it was never ideal,” said Mary Paul, executive assistant and administrative services manager at AZPM. “Our television studio was once a chemistry lab. You could still see the gas lines coming out of the wall. The new building finally gives us spaces that were designed for the work we do.”

Now, with the completion of the Paul and Alice Baker Center for Public Media at the University of Arizona, AZPM has stepped into a facility that doesn’t just meet their needs, it elevates them.

“The first word that comes to mind is light,” Paul said. “When you stand in the space and look up at that two-story ceiling in the lobby and see light streaming through enormous windows, it’s jaw-dropping.”

The new 61,500-sq.-ft. building, constructed by DPR, is unlike any other. Designed from the ground up to support the nuanced demands of public broadcasting, it features a “box within a box” acoustic strategy that isolates each room from vibrations and noise.

“We have 12 or 15 rooms on floating slabs,” said Jack Gibson, CEO of AZPM. “You understand that concept academically, but when you see the level of detail required to provide isolation, it’s remarkable.”

No two rooms are shaped alike. Trapezoidal forms replace right angles to preserve sound quality, creating a visual and structural rhythm that is both unconventional and intentional. HVAC systems were custom designed to cool rooms silently, ensuring microphones pick up only what they’re meant to.

“We look at where noise will be coming from, both inside and outside the building, and that lets us know what adjacencies we need to avoid and how to build the rooms so the noise doesn’t disturb the spaces that need to be quiet,” said Richard Schrag, design principal at Russ Berger Design Group.

"It's really incredible how nuanced and precise this all had to be," Gibson said.

“We achieved zero defects on the project, which is a huge testament to the quality process we built from day one,” said Shiann Claridge, DPR senior project engineer. “With a facility this complex, it took deep trust and coordination across every trade partner to deliver something this precise.”

That trust didn’t happen by accident. It was built through intentional communication and a culture of collaboration.

“This was the best team for this project,” said Shashi Sriram, project executive with DPR. “Open communication, regular check-ins and active listening created psychological safety and strengthened relationships. Celebrating milestones and learning together turned collaboration into a culture.”

The technical complexity of the build demanded early and deep collaboration.

“Acoustical performance is so inherent to the room’s function that it really needs to drive the whole process,” said Schrag. “DPR really came through.”

SmithGroup served as the prime and lead designer for the project, partnering with Tucson-based Swaim Associates as the local architect. While SmithGroup led the exterior and technical space design, Swaim focused on site design, non-technical interiors, and construction administration—helping carry the building’s vision through from concept to completion.

“We’ve done podcast suites, broadcast rooms, performance spaces,” said Will McCrory, Senior Principal at SmithGroup. “But bringing all of those elements together under one roof, at this level of quality, was truly unique.”

“Projects like this are a dream come true, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make an impact on the people who work there and on their mission to serve the community,” said Laura Vertes, project architect with Swaim Associates. “Knowing they’ll finally have a space with natural light and comfort—that kept us motivated even when things were difficult.”

The impact of the building goes far beyond technical achievement. It’s a turning point for AZPM’s staff, culture and connection to the community.

“We were in the red brick jungle on campus,” Gibson said. “Even people who’ve visited before sometimes wander outside looking for any sign of where we are. Now, we’re on a prominent corner lot, and the building makes a statement.”

AZPM’s new home is more than a workplace. It’s a community hub.

“We look at this new building as a gathering place,” Paul said. “We have studios where people can sit and watch productions, a podcast studio for public use and space for concerts, screenings and events. We’ve even talked about hosting farmers markets and toy drives.”

DPR’s role in delivering that vision didn’t go unnoticed.

“DPR really delivered spot-on what we asked for in terms of architecture and functionality,” said Gibson. “It turned out better in so many ways.”

The building isn’t just quiet. It listens. It’s a structure designed to absorb sound, but also to amplify purpose. It’s a place where journalists, producers and storytellers can do their best work, supported by a space built with intention, care and respect.

And for the people who spent decades underground, it’s more than a new chapter. It’s a home worthy of their voice.