Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network Unveils New Learning Lab

Online, September 22, 2013 (Newswire.com) - KBE Building Corporation (KBE) (www.kbebuilding.com) has completed construction on a new Learning Lab at Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN).

The $3.5 million, 20,000 square-foot teaching facility is housed on two floors of CPBN's Asylum Avenue headquarters and includes classrooms, an cafetorium, production studios, editing suites, a screening room, state-of-the-art audio and mixing studios, and a media gallery. Created through an agreement with Hartford Public Schools, this facility will used as a classroom for 100 high school seniors each year from the Journalism & Media Magnet Academy (JMMA).

During the school year, these students will be given an opportunity to learn, experience, and practice broadcast journalism alongside CPBN professionals. Not only will this program help these students develop their capstone and media portfolios, but it will also strengthen their understanding of academic subjects and help them develop critical career and life skills.

"This is our second project with KBE Building Corporation, and CPBN is very pleased to be working with the firm again," stated Jerry Franklin, President and CEO of CPBN. "This is a trailblazing educational project, and KBE's construction team has done an exceptional job of bringing the architect's design to life."

The Learning Lab will also provide various workforce development programs for adults, with a focus on reintegrating returning U.S. veterans into civilian society by marrying technical military backgrounds with digital media applications.

Other uses for the Learning Lab include (1) a learning and training center for adults and other at-risk youth, (2) a space for the community to foster creativity and civic engagement, and (3) an additional resource for CPBN's media projects.

This project was designed by Friar Associates.

In 2004, KBE worked with CPBN to construct the award-winning renovation of the six-story office building at 1049 Asylum Avenue, which created a state-of-the-art digital broadcast and production center and corporate headquarters for the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network.

About Connecticut Public Television

CPTV is a media service of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN). It is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming, including original documentaries, public affairs shows and educational programming. CPTV has built a reputation as a leader in children's programming, including playing an historic role in bringing Barney & Friends™, Bob the Builder™ and Thomas & Friends™ to public television. The station offers 11.5 hours of positive, nurturing children's programs each weekday, reaching 450,000 households each week. The Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network also includes WNPR, an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media. WNPR serves 276,000 listeners weekly in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island with news and information. Its award-winning local programming includes The Faith Middleton Show, The Colin McEnroe Show and Where We Live. CPBN also includes two affiliate channels: CPTV4U, a 24/7 television channel featuring award-winning drama, news and talk programming, concert performances, independent films, nature shows, British comedy and more; and CPTV Sports, Connecticut's only 24-hour local sports network, covering statewide high school, college, semi-professional and professional sports. For more information, visit www.cptv.org.

About KBE Building Corporation

Regionally located in Farmington, Connecticut and Columbia, Maryland, KBE Building Corporation is a full-service, single-source commercial construction company strategically positioned to serve the Eastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Founded in 1959 and incorporated in 1966, the firm provides preconstruction, construction management, design-build, and general contracting services to clients in the retail, educational, federal, corporate, seniors, hospitality, institutional, and health care markets. KBE has managed more than $2.5 billion in construction volume over the last decade, and is ranked among Engineering News-Record magazine's top 400 construction companies nationally. Visit the company's Web site at www.kbebuilding.com.