So. 2015. How was this going to work? We had an idea. A dream. An FCC license through Low Key Arts. And we had a building that kind of sort of maybe had a lot of work done on it. A lot of work, but so tragically little in the big picture.
Luckily, we had a rowdy band of supporters. We had a hair brained scheme to complete this in six weeks. Six weeks! That was the eternal moving target for us. I tell you the truth, I have seen many a corporate box store finished out in six weeks. This, however, was not so fast. Zac and I just can’t get that much done.
We had lots of help. Richard Simpson came and gave us the courage to start framing, and he helped put up ALL THAT DRYWALL, and then Tim Rogers showed up numerous times with Clayton Blackstock to work on the studio, to straighten our walls, to give untold amount of wisdom on how to do some basic stuff, like hang the doors. Ich!!
After framing, hanging drywall, waiting for the electricians, getting inspected, insulating, finishing drywall, hanging lights, working on the studio, picking paint colors, cleaning sinks, plumbing, vacuuming, hanging trim, and patching nail holes, well, then we could finally start moving into the studio! Unpacking gear, running wires, getting internet and phone, having tower work days, working on the final contracts, planning the party (just six more weeks!) and all the while hoping beyond hope that the big loan for SQZBX would come through (which also involved untold amounts of paperwork and spreadsheets), well, it was kind of a big spring. But we really did finish, we really did have the fireman come and inspect the building, cast the curse of the two hour firewall, and leave. Then we built the firewall, and all was good. The end of city inspectors. (for a while)
- There was once a pile of lumber. This is where the new year started.
- Finally. The courage to frame. Thank you Richard Simpson!
- These crazy guys spent many a weekend designing and building the sound tight brilliant design of this studio.
- And above the studio. Let it snow!
- Zac finishing the drywall. We decided to go with the orange peel. Zac nailed it.
- When do I get to take this thing off?
- Finally. Some color!
- And getting the paper off the floor. Another landmark!
- 900 feet of trim. What a good time!
- T.J. Mahaffey going over the desk he perfectly built for us!
- Putting in the windows that Clayton found on CL in Nashville, Tennessee!
- Oh. Electricity!!!
- All the inspections flew, until they asked about the two hour firewall on the other side of the studio. Luckily, we have lots of friends who came to help us put up two layers of 5/8th drywall to the roof deck. These guys did the lower part in a day!
- RIght? Like it has always been there!
- Then there was the upper part. It was really really hot. Really really hot. But we got the firewall done and inspected before the kids came back from cousin camp!!!
- Trippy, dude.
- The studio!
- My office!
- My office II
- This is the day that Low Key Arts and Zac Smith (C Note Inc) signed the lease, and the station manager contract. This, this day was the culmination of A LOT of meetings. Glad it is over.
- The bathroom. Done!
- The inside of the front facade. BEFORE.
- The outside of the front facade, BEFORE!
- Interior, AFTER!
- EXTERIOR, after!