Did you know that Radio Park Building is also known as the SABC Building? It stands tall as the headquarters of the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Let’s dive into the story of this Johannesburg skyscraper.
Radio Park Building is located in Auckland Park. It is a thirty-story building. It is more than just an office block. It’s a hub of broadcasting.
Construction of Radio Park Building was undertaken by Murray & Roberts. Today they are known as Concor Construction. The building reflects a modern architectural style.
The SABC needed new facilities. Broadcast House was no longer adequate. A 15-hectare site near the Brixton tower was acquired. Building operations commenced on March 18, 1968.
Inside Radio Park Building are numerous broadcast studios. These studios serve both Public Broadcast Services and Public Commercial Stations. There are 10 stations using 18 studios. Some are for on-air broadcasts. Others are standby and production studios.
PBS stations include Ikwekwezi FM, RSG and Lesedi FM. Radio 2000, Motsweding FM and Ukhozi FM also broadcast from here. SAFM, Umhlobo Wenene FM, Lotus FM and Channel Africa complete the list. PCS stations are 5FM, Metro FM and Radio 2000.
Most studios have been upgraded to digital. A few analog studios still remain. Dalet playout systems are used in all 18 studios. These are for on-air contributions. All broadcast studios are equipped with hybrids. These facilitate live telephone interviews.
The News and Current Affairs section has its own studios. There are three on-air studios with control rooms. There are also three one-man-studios. Eleven editing booths and three news reading studios are available. All these studios use digital DHD consoles. Dalet serves as the playout system. Hybrids are in place for live telephone interviews.
All studios connect via the MADI system. They connect to Radio Main Control for broadcasting. Kim Myburgh is the Manager: Radio Media Studios in Gauteng. The contact number is 011 714-4908. Maria Maputla handles studio bookings. Her contact number is 011 714-2826.
The Administration block included a Tower Block. This was officially opened on April 2, 1976. It had 35 levels above the piazza. Six were service floors. Three parking garages were below the piazza. They had 725 parking bays. The 28 office floors housed over 1,200 employees. Twelve elevators served the building.
Barovier and Toso designed the glass ceiling in the foyer. They were glass specialists from Venice.
The Radio Studio Block covers nearly 5,600 m2. The building’s outer skin consists of the main roof. It is carried by a perimeter beam. Thirty-six perimeter columns support this. Four central internal columns add support. The larger studios have structural steel frames. These rest on special vibration mountings. They were imported from the USA.
Radio Park Building stands as a testament to broadcasting history. It continues to shape South Africa’s media landscape.