KCRW Is Outta The Basement: A Farewell To Its Old Digs (PHOTOS)

It was a long time coming, but KCRW is finally in its new studios off of the main Santa Monica College campus. Well, almost. "Press Play" is still originating from the old basement studios this week, and I recorded this week's "Screengrab" segment (my weekly TV chat with Joe Adalian that airs Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m.) in the old studios on Monday — but it was a ghost town. After years of planning, KCRW finally has a new home.

A new home that will finally give the station and its employees room to breathe. Even as it grew, the KCRW staff managed to operate in tight quarters, in the basement below Santa Monica College's cafeteria. Above and below, some views of its music library. Look at all that sweet, sweet vinyl! (CD's in the file cabinets and on the walls as well.)

(And when I say it was a long time coming, it's no joke. I remember bringing the family to KCRW's new building open house in December 2017 -- read about it here. It took longer for the move than anyone expected, but I think everyone finally now sees the light at the end of the tunnel!)

A view of one of the KCRW offices. Not a lot of natural light, and phone reception was always spotty down there. 

One of the studios where I got to record "The Spin-Off" and "Screengrab" over the years.

Not sure what's going to happen to this stuff, but new equipment awaits the station at its new facility.

The hallway as of last week, before the moving boxes came.

A view into KCRW's live studio in the basement.

Some amazing photos of artists who visited KCRW over the years could be found all over the basement -- and have now been transported to the new station.

One of the first things you saw when entering the station: An ever-growing collection of Polaroids taken by notable guests.

Oh, and the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne. His face would be beaming back at you, welcoming you to the basement.

KCRW is leaving just before this fading sign completely peeled off.

My view.

Coincidentally, this is the second time I've been affiliated with a radio station that moved out of a basement. As general manager of Northwestern's WNUR in 1995, I was part of the team that moved our student-run station out of the basement of Annie May Swift Hall and into brand new facilities on its first floor.

Here's an updated look from Monday, with the walls now bare and the staff mostly gone.

Someone had to painstakingly remove all of those Polaroids! Curious to see how they're displayed in the new building.

And that's it! Congrats to everyone at KCRW on making the big move, especially my producer, Kaitlin Parker, and general manager Jennifer Ferro! Can't wait to begin recording "Screengrab" there!

KCRW Open House Reveals The Public Station's Cool New Digs

They're outta the basement! Well, almost. KCRW's long-awaited building is one step closer to officially opening, now that it's been unveiled to the community. An open house on Saturday gave both KCRW staffers and listeners a chance to finally see the new facilities, and imagine what it will look like once operations officially move there next spring.

It's a big deal. KCRW is currently located in a cramped basement under Santa Monica College's cafeteria; it's actually pretty amazing how much gets done in such a small space. The new building, located off campus in a nearby plot of land owned by the college, will give KCRW a chance to breathe — and to grow. It's pretty impressive.

Start with a welcome reception area. There is no such thing at the current station.

High ceilings, and most importantly: Sunlight. Again, in short supply in the current basement.

Looking down from the second floor, countless work stations.

"I will only listen to KCRW."

A tribute to KCRW by superfan David Lynch.

For the opening afternoon, Anne Litt broadcast live.

A mostly empty interview studio that eventually might be used for various programs.

The open-air floor plan.

To always remind staffers of their humble former studios, the breakroom has been christened "The Basement," complete with this photo of the stairs that currently lead down to the station's basement home.

The music library will be quite the highlight.

Pics of Jack Black and Daniel Radcliffe in the stacks.

Where the electrical equipment will eventually live.

One of the most impressive parts of the new station is the downstairs music area, which will include a green room for guests, plus showers (!) for visiting bands. Also, bands will be able to roll their vans right up to the building, allowing them to unload their equipment in a snap. Quite a change from right now, when they often have to haul their instruments across the Santa Monica College campus.

The new performance space at KCRW also promises to be quite a draw, allowing guests to watch and giving bands much more room to perform.

Congrats to KCRW, it's a long overdue upgrade for Southern California's premier public radio station (and yes, I am biased -- don't forget to hear Joe Adalian and I every Tuesday morning during "Morning Edition" for our segment "Screengrab"!).