WSB-TV 2 Digital Broadcasting Facility

For more than 45 years, “White Columns” was the home of WSB-TV Channel 2. When Cox Broadcasting, the station’s parent company, decided to make the switch from analog to digital, they chose The Austin Company for their facility needs – the same firm that built White Columns in the 1940s. Conversion from a traditional analog signal to digital required sophisticated, multi-disciplined planning, architectural design and engineering to accommodate current and anticipated advancements in technology.

The old White Columns building was shored and supported while the new building was placed 30 feet below and adjacent to it. This was in the middle of a regular broadcast schedule, in which employees were working within the facility on a 24-hour basis.

The new four-level facility includes two 3,600 SF television production studios, a 4,200 SF live television production studio, and a 60,000 SF area dedicated to radio operations. It also has a television newsroom with a centralized assignment desk and a 6,000 SF television tech center with master control room, two production control rooms, two audio rooms and central rack room.

The project was executed with no disruption to on-air operations. The result is a cutting-edge station designed to meet the demands of HDTV and digital transmission well into the 21st century.

Other characteristics included:

• Specialized electrical power and distribution systems with 5-wire grounding design and unique UPS loading for digital electronics.
• Electrical provisions for all “technical core” non-linear, 3rd harmonic loading, with custom designed “K”-rated transformers.
• State-of-the-art cabletray, duct banks and extra capacity raceways to ensure efficient and flexible cable management.
• Facility “building systems” of paramount importance to technical revolution applications, including: MATV/House RF, multi-disciplined clock systems, fire alarm and protection, intercom and BSP panelboards.
• Advanced telecommunications design criteria for telephone switch, backbone and multi-application interconnect with newsroom, studio, MIS/IT technical operations and administrative requirements.