A proposal to build a mixed-use development in Tucson that will include a large television production studio has won the approval of a committee serving the Arizona Board of Regents.
That committee is the Finance, Capital and Resources Committee, which has said that the project could be built at the site of The Bridges, a mixed-use development some 3 miles to the south of the University of Arizona’s main Tucson campus.
The project will provide a broadcasting home for the station Arizona Public Media, which is affiliated with both the National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.
Expected to cost at least $45 million to build, the facility will also house a high-tech conference space, with the broadcasting space including theater-style seating.
Most of the funding for the project has already been secured through private donations, although a public fundraising campaign may later be launched.
The proposal must now go before the full Regents Board for a vote, which is expected to take place later this month.
Reports indicate that planning for the new station facility will take around 18 months, with construction expected to begin by the spring of 2023.
By Garry Boulard
