WTMD's New Home to Add Performance Space, Studios

 public radio station is set to boost more than its visibility this fall.

announced this week that the university has finalized plans for its new 8,000-square-foot offices and studio at Towson City Center. The station will move this fall, and bring with it a slew of special events, live music and new opportunities for the public radio station.

“We’ve designed this space to be a combination: a music lovers’ clubhouse, community meeting space and education center," general manager Steve Yasko said in a university press release. "Our listeners and the public will be invited into WTMD every day to experience the best in national and Baltimore bands."

The tower, formerly known as the Investment Building, is in the middle of a by new owner Caves Valley Partners. WTMD (89.7 FM) joins four Towson University clinics and Mile One Automotive as the lead tenants in the 12-floor building.

The station, founded in 1979, moved to an adult alternative format from smooth jazz in 2003. And since then, it has outgrown its 1,800-square-foot offices in the basement of Towson University's Media Center building. The new digs will include performance areas, meeting spaces and four studios, including an on-air studio overlooking the Towson roundabout.

The recording studios will be open to Baltimore-area musicians.

“That’s going to help us deepen our commitment to Baltimore bands by allowing them to come into the station to rehearse and record their music,” program director Scott Mullins said in the press release.

Officials said the station's members will be able to rent the space for parties and other events, and the event space could also host community gatherings or student film screenings.

The move will also allow the 10,000-watt station to boost its coverage area, pending federal approval, by moving its antenna from the top of the university's Residence Tower building to the top of Towson City Center.

"The additional height that Towson City Center provides will allow us to reach more people and have less static and signal drop outs.  It’s really going to make listening to WTMD an even better experience," Yasko said in the press release.

Nancy Hafford, executive director of the , has spoken to Yasko about plans for the move in the past and looks forward to working with the station on live events similar to WTMD's First Thursday concert series held in West Mount Vernon Park.

"We're really hoping that since they'll be in the core of Towson that we'll have a lot more opportunities to partner with them," she said. "We're thrilled to death."