LEASE JUSTIFICATION
February 1999
MEMORANDUM
To:
Secretary of Education
Through:
Department of General Services
Division of Engineering and Buildings
Bureau of Real Property Management
From:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Subject:
Lease Justification
Program: 21st Century News Center
Source of Funds: Education and General Funds
Program Need:
Virginia Commonwealth University has identified a need for a minimum of 17,000 square
feet of space for the 21st Century News Center. The Center has a dual mission: to provide
journalism education to students that will result in a master’s degree and to provide
customized retraining to professional journalists. Phase One of the Center exists in
approximately 2,000 square feet of space, which is wholly insufficient for the master’s and
professionals’ retraining programs.
In a one-year, total-immersion program, the 21st Century News Center will teach master’s
students what they need to work in the world’s multiple-media communications companies.
The Center opens its doors to master’s students in August 2000. The Center’s Executive
Board has designed an innovative curriculum of Roundtables and Workshops, both of which
will be offered in five-week modules. Students will create White Papers that will be offered
to a variety of industry publications. Students also will create multiple-media news products
that will be judged for excellence by top-level executives in the business.
Students will work with a minimum of three kinds of technology in the 21st Century News
Center. The Center’s technology planning is being supported by Ifra, of Darmstadt,
Germany, the world’s giant in supporting new technologies for media companies around the
globe. Students will be helping the communications industries determine the technology
most needed for the newsrooms of tomorrow. Students will learn what media executives
want them to know to prepare for employment in multiple media companies. A limit of 30
students will be enrolled in each year’s class to assure a dynamic teaching/learning
partnership between faculty and student.
Media companies now produce multiple media information products. Technological
advances in information gathering, production and dissemination have made professional
retraining a necessity. The 21st Century News Center already offers workshops to
professionals seeking to learn multiple media skills. Media companies have enrolled
employees in the retraining classes and are asking for more workshops now.
Facility Need:
The 21st Century News Center is conceived around a wide-open space, advanced technology
vision, which distinguishes it from competition in both higher education and the profession.
This vision is what news companies find attractive as they redesign their own buildings to
stimulate a more creative, less cramped environment.
This space must be innovatively opened to maximize instructional and student work areas
while providing for some individual offices, Roundtable and conference areas, Workshop
space, editing areas, a library, a mail/office equipment area, technology and equipment areas,
and an “auditorium” seating area.
Space for the academic program and the professional training program must be separate but
contiguous; it cannot be integrated because students and professional journalists, by nature of
experience, learn at entirely different levels and professional journalists in two-day training
classes cannot be held back by the more tedious learning of masters students.
Professional journalists must take classes in abbreviated time frames. They must have
maximum exposure to content in a minimum amount of time away from their jobs.
The University will require a minimum of 17,000 square feet of space to successfully operate
the master’s and retraining programs. The Center will require nine offices, a receptionist’s
area, three classrooms, four digital editing bays, a master’s student work area, a multiple
media library, auditorium space, a mail/copy/fax room, a commons room/kitchen, an
electronic equipment engineering room/OIT engineer office, two conference spaces and three
Roundtable seminar rooms. There must be room for expansion as the programs grow.
The facility must be able to accommodate computer flooring, be wired with a T1
transmission line, and have a security system. A minimum of 50 parking spaces must adjoin
the selected site.
Location:
The 21st Century News Center must be located within close proximity of Virginia
Commonwealth University and the downtown business district to provide easy access to
public bus lines and VCU Shuttle services as well as Media General, Inc., the Southeast’s
largest media company. Media General is a partner in the 21st Century News Center project.
Alternatives:
Alternative I. Do nothing; maintain current operations.
Currently the Center has exclusive use of Suite 1100 and Room 1118. Remaining in this
2,000 square foot location is not feasible: there is insufficient space to operate a master’s
program and to expand the number and size of workshops offered. Parking is grossly
insufficient; the Temple Building’s HVAC and bathroom facilities are in a poor state and are
often inoperable.
Alternative II. Locate this activity in a University-owned facility.
Phase One of the VCU 21st Century News Center is located on the first floor of the Temple
Building. The School of Mass Communications is housed on the first and second floors of
this building. The entire first floor (@ 20,000 square feet) and part of the second floor would
be required for exclusive use by the Center. Parking is insufficient; the Temple Building’s
HVAC and bathroom facilities are in a poor state.
The School of Mass Communications has exclusive use of the remainder of the first floor and
room 2222 on the second floor. The School shares the remaining five classrooms on the
second floor with the College of Humanities and Sciences departments. Currently the three
student media also operate on the first floor.
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Dedication of the entire first floor and part of the second floor to the Center will
require that permanent homes be found for the School of Mass Communications’
classes, writing and graphics labs, and the University’s student media.
Other Humanities and Sciences classes that use space on the second floor would
need to be relocated.
Renovation of the first and second floors would be a major long-term disruption to
classes in the Temple Building.
Based on a report from the VCU Architectural Services Department, renovation
would cost approximately $1.5 million.
There is not enough time to renovate the existing space under state protocols in
order to open the doors to graduate students by August 2000.
Grossly insufficient parking.
Inadequate security.
A program that has global attention needs exclusive space near the city’s major
media company, which is also a partner in the project.
There is not sufficient or appropriate space for the Center in University-owned facilities.
Alternative III. Locate this activity in an off-campus facility.
Several commercial properties were evaluated and it was determined that the ideal facility
will include the following:
1. An open-space, technologically-adaptable environment containing a minimum of 17,000
square feet.
2. Adequate “shell” space available for custom design that will allow for full computer
networking and installation of sophisticated digital equipment. Floor-to-ceiling heights
should accommodate computer floors.
3. A location that provides easy access to students, University and media personnel.
4. Adequate parking under and/or directly adjacent to the building.
5. Elevator(s).
6. Handicapped accessibility.
And provide for:
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9 administration/faculty office areas.
A receptionist office in an entrance lobby to ensure security and interaction with those
studying in and visiting the Center.
3 classrooms.
4 digital editing bays.
1 student work area where students have assigned space.
1 multiple media library.
1 auditorium area.
1 mail/copy/fax room.
1 commons area and kitchen.
1 electronic equipment engineering/OIT engineer room (office/equipment repair).
1 executive director conference area.
1 administration conference area.
3 Roundtable areas.
Estimated Annual Cost:
The 21st Century News Center is fully funded by the University with income streams to be
provided by: 1) An aggressive, professionals’ retraining program, 2) Thirty masters students,
each paying $20,000 per year. It is estimated that the annual rent will be between $165,000
($7.50/SF for shell space) and $396,000 ($18.00/SF for tenant improvements included).
The initial lease is anticipated to be for five years with one, five-year renewal option.
Prepared by: Nancy J. Buchanan
Telephone No. 828-9177
Approved:______________________
Secretary of Education
Date:_________________________
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