Moving from a smaller environment to a big multi-studio facility in the city can be a daunting and arduous process, but thanks to the help of Kennett Square based Studio Technology, this process was made much easier for New England Public Radio.

NEPR, the umbrella organization for an array of radio stations, had decided to move from its original location in Amherst to its new urban environment in Springfield as a part of the University of Massachusetts’ initiative to play an active role in the city, an incentive that is a part of the city’s own economic development.

The new NEPR Springfield headquarters is significantly more spacious than its predecessor with four control rooms, three studios, two announcement booths and two interview booths. The primary on-air suite consists of one control room and its associated studio and an announcement booth, while the three other control rooms, together with their two studios and announcement booths, are used for production.

Furnishing the new space was an easy task, as the organization already had previous successful collaborations with Studio Technology. As a result, Studio Technology, which builds custom furniture for the broadcast industry, was immediately brought in on the project to help design and execute the furniture for the new location.

Studio Technology President, Vince Fiola, worked closely with NEPR representatives, to ensure that every detail was taken into consideration, ranging from surface areas and wiring needs, to lines of sight and equipment locations. This all had to be completed while taking into account the importance of the layout and structure of the new facility.

Despite the focus on the technical issues aspects, aesthetics were not forgotten, with the furniture specially selected to ensure not only the staff’s comfort but also to complement the intended style for each the rooms.

In addition to providing the basic furniture, Studio Technology also provided several custom enhancements that included supply cabinets, copy stands, roll-around and counter top racks, and in particular, a special rack to meet the needs of the space restricted voice booth.