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Jan.
27, 2003 |
WMHT Plans Move to MapInfo Building in Tech
Park
 WMHT
Educational Telecommunications has announced that it plans to
move into the former headquarters of MapInfo Corporation in the
Rensselaer Technology Park instead of building a new facility
as was originally announced in November 2001.
Under the agreement reached between WMHT and Rensselaer,
the station has agreed to buy the former MapInfo building from
Rensselaer. WMHT had been planning to build a new facility in
order to comply with Federal Communications Commission mandates
to broadcast a digital signal.
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"WMHT taking residence in the Tech
Park is just a perfect fit, particularly now with RPI's plans
to develop a performing arts center."
—Michael Wacholder—
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After extensive study, the WMHT Board of Trustees
concluded that it would be more expensive to retrofit the station's
existing facility in Rotterdam with digital technology than to
acquire a modern structure. WMHT said it estimates lowering the
overall cost of the project by $8 million and the project's schedule
can be expedited.
"WMHT taking residence in the Tech Park is
just a perfect fit, particularly now with RPI's plans to develop
a performing arts center," said Michael Wacholder, director
of the Rensselaer Technology Park. "We are already working
on establishing a 'technology link' between the performing arts
center on campus and WMHT in the Park."
Before the PBS station can begin operating from
the site, new studios will be constructed adjacent to the building,
and technical enhancements to support television and radio production
will be added to the existing structure.
Making changes to the existing building will increase
WMHT's usable space while taking advantage of the technological
infrastructure in which MapInfo had invested. WMHT expects the
building to be fully operational by summer 2004.
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