Public Grand Opening: December 8, 2024
Join All Classical Radio for the public grand opening of our brand new Media Arts Center at KOIN Tower in Downtown Portland. On Sunday, December 8, 2024, between 12:00 and 3:00 PM, we invite you to a free and festive public event, beginning with a gathering in the main lobby of KOIN Tower at 222 SW Columbia St. Guests will enjoy cider and cookies, youth and family activities, and a chance to mingle with your favorite radio hosts and fellow music lovers.
Timed-entry tours are available by reservation on Sunday, December 8, 2024 between 12:00 and 3:00 PM by visiting our event page. Sign up to take a closer look at All Classical Radio’s new broadcast studios, including festive performances from musicians including Leah Yorkston, Courtney Freed, Stephanie Smith, María García, Adam Eccleston, and more.
Please click here to reserve your spot on a tour during our December 8, 2024 open house.
Can’t make the available tour times? Read on to request a future tour, and to learn more about All Classical Radio’s Media Arts Center!
A New Home for All Classical Radio
Once the home of KOIN Center Cinemas, All Classical Radio’s new Media Arts Center carries on the tradition of creating a community around the arts in downtown Portland. From the third floor of KOIN Tower, we are thrilled to bring you the music and programming you love from a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility.
“Built to Last”
With an eye on the future, the Media Arts Center supports All Classical’s evolution as a thriving arts and culture network. The thought and detail that went into every decision about the space was led by a vision of enhancing the quality of radio you hear on air every day, as well as offering an unparalleled space for community to gather around the arts.
The Media Arts Center’s high ceilings, large windows, wood treatments, and greenery bring a sense of nature into the space, a beloved aspect of life in the Pacific Northwest. The white walls offer a blank canvas for new and exciting artistic collaborations. Every new piece of technology and acoustical treatment was carefully vetted by a team of experts.
All Classical Radio’s Media Arts Center was made possible by the generous support of community members, foundations, and businesses. The capital campaign to build this center is nearly complete—visit the Arts Blog to get involved and make a gift.
Keep reading to learn more about the key features of the new space, answer your most frequently asked questions, and get in touch for tours.
At a Glance
- 15,000 square feet, 3,000 more than our previous space
- 5 state-of-the-art production studios to support the station’s 98% locally-produced programming
- 100-person capacity performance hall with a recording studio and 16×9-foot LED screen
- 15 months of construction, from breaking ground in August 2023 to the official opening events in November 2024
- 30 miles (!) of cabling throughout the building to keep the Media Arts Center up and running
Virtual Tour
KOIN Tower
KOIN Tower is All Classical Radio’s new home in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon. Built in 1984, KOIN Tower is the third-tallest building in the city. Fun fact: In the basement of the building, by the loading dock, there is what is essentially a giant “lazy susan” to turn trucks around for unloading.
Lobby
As you enter the All Classical Radio lobby, you’ll have a direct line of sight into the main broadcast studio. There is a serene waiting area with ample seating, a gift shop display with our latest merch and collaborations with local artists, and the Typewriter Nook where visitors can compose their own love letter to All Classical, which will be displayed on the wall.
Irving Levin Performance Hall
The Irving Levin Performance Hall is a multi-functional, state-of-the-art performance venue to gather for a wide variety of events–concerts, poetry readings, dance recitals, retreats, dinners, lectures, and more. The stunning space includes flexible seating for up to 100, an LED screen, a lighting grid, phenomenal acoustics, and the ability to feature live audio and video broadcasts.
Recording Studio
Designed to celebrate, document, and amplify the artists of our community, this studio will provide exceptional access for the region’s artists to be recorded and broadcast around the world. Learn more about our vision for the recording studio here.
Broadcast Studio
The Broadcast Studio is the central location for on-air activity at All Classical Radio. Passers-by can watch the hosts in action through large windows as they bring our programming to life in this well-equipped modern studio.
Richard Yarnell Studio
The Richard Yarnell Studio is the largest production studio available for hosts and producers to record and prepare on-air content. The studio will also feature an upright piano for rehearsals and podcasts. You might notice that the walls are angled in all the studios. This is to prevent flutter echo, an unpleasant sonic effect that occurs when sound waves bounce back and forth between parallel surfaces.
Moonflower Studio
Moonflower Studio is the new home of the International Children’s Arts Network (ICAN Radio), with stories, art, music, and poetic programming for our youngest listeners. The production desk is intentionally lowered to accommodate the variety of youth who frequent the space, and the furniture is whimsical and cozy.
Kern Family ICAN Nook
The Kern Family ICAN Nook is a child-friendly space for guests of ICAN to explore arts and crafts, books, and other fun activities. Many of the children’s books found in this space have been featured on ICAN’s monthly program, Audio Book Tour.
Harry Rabinowitz Music Library
Home to All Classical’s assortment of recordings, and a work of art in itself, the Harry Rabinowitz Music Library currently displays about 20% of our total collection. Did you know that All Classical was one of the first radio stations in the U.S. to digitize their music library?
Mary Chomenko Hinckley Art Display and Artist’s Lounge
Featuring “Peonies in a Mexican Sunset, La Manzanilla, 2024” by Mary Chomenko Hinckley, the Artist’s Lounge is an intimate corner of the Media Arts Center for staff members and visitors to collaborate or unwind. Mary Chomenko Hinckley is a local visual artist working in paint, bronze, and glass. Chomenko Hinckley’s captivating pieces are abstract, autobiographical, and often a conversation about time, place, and material—each one tells a unique story.
Joe Cantrell Art Gallery
The public entrance to the Irving Levin Performance Hall serves as a beautiful first impression to all attendees and offers a rotating gallery of contemporary art with a focus on Indigenous and First Nation creatives. The space is named in honor of Joe Cantrell, a prominent regional photographer, community leader, and member of the Cherokee tribe. Using innovative photographic technology, Cantrell creates intimate portraits of the inside of stones, producing imagery unlike anyone you’ve seen before.
Artist Cafe
An expansive gathering place for staff members and artists to congregate, as well as a convenient space to facilitate catered events with a full working kitchen.
FAQs about the Media Arts Center
Why did All Classical Radio move?
This station has grown in our listenership, locally produced programming, staff, and technical needs since our first broadcast over 40 years ago. All Classical is a nationally recognized public radio station with a local reach of over 250,000 listeners each week, and an international stream accessed by more than a million people. To support this exciting growth, and to plan for a long and stable future for accessible classical music, we relocated to a larger office space with updated production studios.
In addition, this move allows us to invest greater support in our local musicians and artists. We have a remarkable opportunity to provide a performance hall and recording studios in downtown Portland. This new space will reflect our ambition to share the dynamism, joy, and passion for classical music with all audiences — regionally, nationally, and internationally.
There were a few more considerations that made this a good home for us, including an unobstructed line of sight between All Classical’s antenna and our broadcast towers in Portland’s Southwest Hills (Sylvan Tower and Skyline Tower), and optimal equipment placement for performance and regular maintenance.
Is the new Media Arts Center ADA-accessible?
All Classical’s Media Arts Center is ADA-compliant, including wide pathways throughout the building, elevator access to our third-floor offices, accessible restroom stalls, flexible seating in the performance hall, and more.
What is parking like near the new space?
KOIN Tower has a secure parking garage located on SW Clay St. between 1st and 2nd Aves. Street parking is also available (we have been pleasantly surprised at the amount of parking right in front of the building!), as well as several nearby parking garages, including a Smart Park within a few blocks. KOIN Tower is accessible via public transportation.
How can I rent the Irving Levin Performance Hall?
Stay tuned! We are still building out our rental program for the Irving Levin Performance Hall and look forward to sharing more details in the near future.
Is All Classical still fundraising for this move? How can I donate to the capital campaign?
In May 2023, All Classical Radio announced plans to relocate and launched a $10 million capital campaign. As of November 2024, 89% of the goal has been secured, with less than $1.2 million left to raise. This monumental progress would not be possible without early and generous investment from leadership donors and foundations who believe in the power of our airwaves. There is still time to get involved! Learn more about how you can be part of All Classical’s vision for the future.
Are there volunteer opportunities at the new space?
Is the Tili-Cam still operating?
The Tili-Cam is still in operation, sharing gorgeous views of the Rose City. Watch the live feed here.
Plan Your Visit
Interested in seeing the Media Arts Center in person? Fill out the short form below, and a member of our staff will be in touch shortly.
