Fox Network Center - Houston

184,520 SF

This one-of-a-kind television network center is the result of a remarkable collaborative effort between FOX project personnel, Archcentric, project engineers, the general contractor, broadcast equipment subcontractors, RF systems equipment subcontractors, and local agencies.  This new facility is essentially the “Grand Central Station” for FOX Regional Networks throughout the United States, according to Tim Sweeney, Senior Vice President and General Manager for FOX Sports Networks in Houston.

The design started after programming and an extensive search that located a 30-acre green-field site north of Houston.  The Owner employed a nationally recognized wind expert to help develop specific design criteria for the project and to wind tunnel test the basic design to withstand hurricane forces common to the Houston area.  The resultant 2-story, steel-framed, concrete-clad structure is state-of-the-art; not only in broadcast systems but also in hurricane-resistant design.

The facility’s major components are network broadcast rooms, a technical operations center, a network management center, broadcast equipment rooms, media management and ingest rooms, a tape vault, SSPA rooms, a large aperture antenna yard, and central plant.  The building also includes associated office spaces, employee break rooms, café and patio area, along with space assigned for anticipated future business needs including a data center.  An ancillary space that will be used as an employee fitness center with lockers & showers also doubles as a Disaster Relief area in the event of threatening storm conditions.  The facility is designed to maintain business operational capacity in the event of local inclement conditions but also serves as a backup facility for the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles.

This 24/7/365, critical, secure facility is designed for internal as well as external expansion as dictated by future business needs.  The architecture and building systems are extremely robust, offer high reliability, and serve the long term needs for this cutting edge, discerning client.

Services

· Site Selection

· Programming

· Space Planning

· Architecture

· Interiors

· Acoustical Engineering

· Structural Engineering

 

Services by Owner

· MEP Engineering

· Civil Engineering

· Landscape Architecture

· Wind Analysis Engineering

FOX Networks Engineering & Operations

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Photos: Jeff Fitlow