NPR to move just north of U.S. Capitol in 2012

NPR will move into a new home in Washington's emerging mixed use NoMA (North of Massachusetts Avenue) neighborhood in 2012, the network and District of Columbia announced today (press release). The company will move its entire Washington-based operation from its current home on Massachusetts Avenue to 1111 N. Capitol St. NE, site of the historic former home of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company, built in1927 (map). Consistent with D.C. development practice, the original facade will be incorporated into the new 10-story office tower, which will include a 60,000 square foot newsroom for NPR's radio and multimedia ops and a public space for live shows and events. "A major factor in our decision was the opportunity to play a role in the revitalization of NoMA," said Ken Stern, c.e.o. NPR began its search for a new home 19 months ago and considered more than 100 sites in Washington, Maryland and Virginia before deciding on the spot located a little over a mile due north of the U.S. Capitol. "NPR is a Washington icon," said D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty. "Their decision to not only stay in the District, but to build their new headquarters in one of our most important emerging neighborhoods says a lot about how far we've come in transforming our city." Earlier: Other major relocating pubcasting orgs include PBS, APTS, WGBH and Minnesota Public Radio.