Moving NPR, literally

This evening’s broadcast of All Things Considered will be the last from 635 Massachusetts Avenue. Tomorrow morning, Weekend Edition Saturday will debut from NPR’s brand new facilities at 111 North Capitol Street.

Margaret Low Smith, NPR’s Senior Vice President, News, sent a lovely message out to member stations earlier today. This excerpt paints the picture:

In just a few hours, All Things Considered will broadcast for the very last time from 635 Massachusetts Avenue and tomorrow morning, Weekend Edition Saturday will debut from our brand new facilities at 1111 North Capitol Street. About half the NPR Washington staff has already made the move, but the News Division began its exodus this week.
Those of us who remain are working among our packed boxes. Our walls are barren, except for the lonely nails. Some good humored graffiti is brightening the dim hallways. I can’t resist sharing this farewell tumblr: Stranded at 635.

Despite the emptiness of the place, there is still a sense of vitality, because the heart and soul of NPR is embodied by the people who work here and their enduring commitment to what we do. Even as the moving trucks line up outside the building, inside we’re still taking the time to perfect an edit, check a fact or produce an elegant cross-fade. This move is the ultimate crossfade, but we still have to get ATC on the air tonight!

Margaret goes on to point out that, after the final broadcast, ATC will have aired 6,991 times from the 635 Massachusetts Ave building, during almost 20 years of NPR being based there.

Definitely check out the link to the tumblr photos. Funny, poignant, charming.

I want to wish NPR the best of luck in the new digs. We are all looking forward to another 20 years of NPR bringing the American public news, information and cultural stories that illuminate who we are and who we can be.

Go, NPR!