Griffin Communications To Build New Home For News On 6

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- David Griffin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the News On 6's parent company Griffin Communications, announced today that construction will begin Tuesday on a new state-of-the-art media center in Tulsa.

"Today's announcement represents another significant milestone for our company and a reinforcement of our deep commitment to Tulsa and Green Country," said Griffin. "The Griffin Communications Media Center will allow us to continue to bring superior news and information to the Tulsa area for years to come," said Griffin.

Scheduled for completion in late 2012, Griffin Communications Media Center will house Tulsa's number one television station Oklahoma's Own News On 6, NewsOn6.com, The Tulsa CW, Money Saving Queen, This TV Network, News On 6 Now (a partnership with Cox Communications) and Griffin New Media.

The new facility located at 303 North Boston Avenue in the Brady Arts District will house more than 185 employees in 57,000 square feet and be located on 3 acres.

"We are proud to build the new broadcast facility in downtown Tulsa, because we strongly believe that a TV station should be in the heart of the community it serves. We are excited the new News On 6 location will continue a sixty year tradition and commitment to downtown," said Griffin. "As well, the new location will serve as a cornerstone for the redevelopment of the Brady Arts District. It's a great and exciting time in the District with the planned development of Brady Town Square, the Arts and Humanities Council Visual Arts Center and the downtown University of Tulsa/Philbrook Arts Facility."

The Griffin Communications Media Center will feature a state-of-the-art high definition news studio and includes room for additional Griffin Communications expansion in Tulsa. In addition, the facility has been designed to be a technology leader with special focus on green technology.

"We wanted our new facility to have a positive impact on our environment by significantly reducing our energy usage and environmental footprint," said Griffin. "We are using the latest geothermal technology to heat and cool the building and LED lighting as part of this initiative."

The facility's 32-well geothermal field will utilize a closed-loop HPGX system which in order to reduce environmental impact will be constructed under the employee parking lot.

Another green aspect of the Griffin Communications Media Center will be the use of LED lighting in the studio which will be among the first in the nation. This change positively impacted diverse areas in the construction including air conditioning, studio height, foundation and structural steel usage.

"The use of LED lighting instruments on our set will reduce our lighting power requirement alone by over 90% from previously-employed incandescent and fluorescent fixtures," said Griffin. "As well the development team has worked extensively with the Brady Arts District streetscaping committee to lead the way in community development and beautification."

The project will maximize on-street parking, provide trees, tree grates, LED street lighting and irrigation systems along both Cincinnati and Boston; and bike racks and park benches along the north side of Cameron. This landscaping effort will be complimentary to the landscaping design being developed for the Brady Square Park which will be located immediately south of the Griffin Communications Media Center.

Working from a design by Rees Associates, Manhattan Construction Company will serve as general contractor on the project. Other construction partners include Wallace Engineering and Development Consulting Services, both of Tulsa.