Detroit PBS and 90.9 WRCJ announce new funding progress as it celebrated the groundbreaking of the future home for public media in Southeast Michigan, the Fred and Barbara Erb Public Media Campus on October 1. The groundbreaking marked a major milestone in the transformation of 234 Piquette Avenue into a new center for public media, education, journalism, arts and community engagement.

Scheduled to open in Fall 2027, the approximately 50,000-square-foot campus will bring Detroit PBS and 90.9 WRCJ together under one roof for the first time. It represents the next chapter in more than a decade of work by Detroit PBS to expand beyond traditional broadcasting through partnerships in local journalism, education, arts and culture, environmental reporting, and health and wellness initiatives across Southeast Michigan.

The Erb Campus will give those partnerships a permanent, centrally located home while creating new opportunities for people to gather, learn, create, exchange ideas, and engage with the stories shaping the region.

“This is a defining moment for Detroit PBS, 90.9 WRCJ and the communities we serve as the Erb Campus moves a step closer to opening,” said Rich Homberg, President and CEO of Detroit PBS and 90.9 WRCJ. “The campus will place public media closer to the people whose experiences, ideas and aspirations drive our work. It will give us new ways to welcome our neighbors, strengthen local journalism, support lifelong learning, showcase artists and performers, and convene meaningful conversations about the future of our region. Most importantly, this campus is being made possible by a community that believes strong public media matters.”

A Public-Private  Investment in the Future

Wayne County has committed $2 million to the Fred and Barbara Erb Public Media Campus, adding momentum to the campaign supporting the $40 million project. With the county’s investment, the campaign is nearly 75% funded through support from foundations, public partners and individual donors throughout the region.

“Wayne County has been a nationally-recognized hub of the arts, culture and publicly-supported journalism for decades that has set an unparallelled standard of excellence,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. “The Fred and Barbara Erb Public Media Campus, which will support education, journalism, arts and culture, will perpetuate that standard by creating a space where our residents can see themselves and participate in conversations that affect their lives. The County is proud to invest in such an endeavor that will strengthen one of our region’s most important public institutions and our community as a whole.”

Wayne County’s investment builds on the cornerstone of the campaign: a successful $7.5 million challenge grant from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation. The community met the challenge one year ahead of schedule, unlocking the full matching commitment and generating $15 million in combined support for the project.

“The response to the challenge reflects the generosity and determination that my parents saw throughout Southeast Michigan,” said John Erb, son of Fred and Barbara Erb and chair of the Erb Family Foundation. “They believed deeply in the power of arts, culture, education, environmental stewardship and community institutions to improve people’s lives. This campus will carry those values forward by creating a place where people can connect, learn and imagine what is possible together. Our family and foundation are grateful to every donor who helped meet this challenge ahead of schedule.”

A Campus Designed for Community

Plans for the Fred and Barbara Erb Public Media Campus include:

• A studio theater for televised productions, performances, public forums and community events 
• An indoor-outdoor performance space supporting live music and programming from 90.9 WRCJ 
• A lifelong education center for student programs, family activities, workshops and professional learning 
• A journalism hub where reporters and community organizations can collaborate on coverage of regional issues 
• Modern television, radio and digital production facilities 
• Flexible gathering and collaboration spaces for community partners, artists, educators, and civic leaders 
• Outdoor areas designed to welcome visitors and connect the campus with the surrounding neighborhood 

The campus will advance the organization’s work across five areas of community impact: Kids and Education, Journalism, Energy and the Environment, Health and Wellness, and Arts and Culture. It will also expand opportunities for public events, hands-on learning, local storytelling, musical performances and partnerships with organizations throughout Southeast Michigan.

Building on Detroit’s History

 234 Piquette Avenue is a century-old industrial property connected to the city’s automotive heritage. The building formerly served as an automotive engineering facility.

Its transformation will preserve the character of the industrial structure while adapting it for a new era of public service. The project will add modern broadcast, production, education and performance facilities while returning the property to active use in a neighborhood central to Detroit’s history of innovation.

“The story of this building mirrors the story of public media in this city,” Homberg added. “It is grounded in Detroit’s history but being transformed to serve what comes next. This campus represents confidence in our city, confidence in our mission and confidence in what we can accomplish when our community comes together.”