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WBGO Jazz Radio to Relocate to New $15M Studio at NJPAC's ArtSide Tower

architecture-design · 2026-08-26

WBGO, the iconic jazz radio station located in Newark, is set to move to a newly designed 10,000-square-foot facility by Meridian Design Associates at the base of ArtSide, a 25-story structure within the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). This transition is part of NJPAC's ambitious $336 million expansion project. The new location will include a broadcast studio, an archive library, community rooms, and a performance space that accommodates 100 seats. Steven A. Williams, WBGO's president, highlighted the importance of public access. Established in 1979, WBGO serves 300,000 listeners weekly and collaborates with NPR. A capital campaign aims to gather $15 million, with $5 million already raised, and the station plans to relocate before its 50th anniversary in 2029.

Key facts

  • WBGO will relocate to a new $15 million space designed by Meridian Design Associates.
  • The new location is at ArtSide, a 25-story tower by SOM within NJPAC.
  • The space will be 10,000 square feet, occupying the first three floors of ArtSide.
  • Features include a broadcast studio, archive library, community meeting rooms, and a 100-seat performance space.
  • WBGO was founded in 1979 and has been at 54 Park Place since then.
  • The station reaches 300,000 weekly listeners and partners with NPR and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
  • A capital campaign has raised $5 million of the $15 million goal.
  • The move is expected before WBGO's 50th anniversary in 2029.

Entities

Institutions

  • WBGO
  • Meridian Design Associates
  • SOM
  • New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
  • Weiss/Manfredi
  • OCA Architects
  • Future Green Studio
  • NPR
  • Jazz at Lincoln Center
  • LMXD
  • Walters-Storyk Design Group
  • Corporation for Public Broadcasting
  • HBO
  • Warner Media
  • NBC
  • ESPN
  • Hot 97

Locations

  • Newark
  • New Jersey
  • New York City
  • Miami
  • 54 Park Place
  • United States

Sources