NEWS

AUGUST.2008
NEW WALTER CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION FOR ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY OPENS TO STUDENTS AUGUST 25



Walter Cronkite, the 91-year-old legendary CBS news anchor, sported his hard hat at a rakish angle for the ground breaking of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication back in February 2007. An entirely new campus created in his name at Arizona State University (ASU) opens to 1,500 students later this month. "I'm grateful beyond measure to those who made this dream a reality," Cronkite revels.

This premier journalism education facility is a unique fast-track project designed by Ehrlich Architects. The six story 223,000 sq ft building in downtown Phoenix built of glass, metal panels and masonry is the work of the award winning California firm. Working with Executive Architects HDR Architecture Inc. and General Contractors SUNDT Construction Inc., the entire design-build process from award to student occupancy took only 22 months.

On November 20, 2008, Walter Cronkite, pioneer news anchor, will officially cut the ribbon and open the newly designed School of Journalism and Communication named for him. Ehrlich Architects has created for the Cronkite School the most state-of-the-art teaching facilities, media technology centers, TV studios and flexible forum space built to date. The $71 million design-build project also launches the Cronkite News Service and the New Media Innovation Lab for students to inform residents on key issues. Eight/KAET, Arizona's PBS affiliate serving 80% of the State, occupies 76,000 sq feet of the building.

"Graduates of the Cronkite School of Journalism have built an impressive record of achievement over the past 20 years. The school's new facility will further improve the students experience and enhance the news product from students," says ASU President Michael Crow.