A state-of-the-art television studio -- the centerpiece of a 3,500 square-foot expansion for College of Communications newsroom and industry space at Innovation Park -- has been constructed and only the addition of studio cameras and the completion of the related control room remain before the facility becomes fully functional.

By the start of the fall semester, communications students will have access to two complete TV studios in the University Park campus.

The new studio (with its construction chronicled in a brief time-lapse video at /video/166096/2013/02/09/video-no-title online) will be used exclusively for production of the "Centre County Report," the weekly half-hour news program that airs on Campus Cable and throughout Pennsylvania on WPSU-TV, and other student-produced programs.

"Our students will benefit from the most professional look of any university production facility in the nation," said Thor Wasbotten, assistant dean for student media and online operations.

Along with the studio, the College of Communications also has agreements that will enable students to produce live coverage that originates from other locations on campus. Specifically, students may contribute reports on air and online from Beaver Stadium and the Trading Room though partnerships with Intercollegiate Athletics and the Smeal College of Business, respectively.

Dan Devlin Design Group designed the studio set at Innovation Park that was installed by Atreus Works. Also, VDO Design and Animation provided the graphic package that will be used on air during “Centre County Report” and Stephen Arnold Music provided the music.