This winter will mark the end of KJHK’s residence in The Shack.

Construction will begin this week on KJHK’s new studio on the third floor of the Kansas Union. The alcoves in the southwest corner of the floor will be demolished and replaced by new acoustically designed studios, a music library and KJHK office space, according to a news release. It is scheduled to be finished in March 2010.

The new studio will replace the studio currently housed in Sudler Annex, known lovingly to KJHK employees as “The Shack.”

Logan Nickels, Stillwater, Okla., senior and station manager, said the new location would be beneficial for KJHK.

“It’s going to be great that we’ll be in the center of campus,” he said. “We’ll have a lot higher visibility and it will really let people know — who previously didn’t know that we were around — that they can join up with the station and be a part of it.”

Tom Johnson, general manager of KJHK, said the Union offered a chance for the radio station to be noticed by more students.

“By providing new equipment and opportunities in a high-visibility location, KJHK will quickly raise its profile on campus, ultimately attracting new listeners as well as bringing more interested students into the organization,” Johnson said in an e-mail.

The project will cost $500,000, according to the press release. Johnson said KJHK had help from Student Success in securing a manageable 12-year loan from the University to finance the project. The rest of the money came from Student Senate, private endowment funds and KJHK’s own reserves, which have been built up since 2004. KJHK headquarters have been located in Sudler Annex since 1975. Jason VanBlarcum, Lawrence graduate student, discovered The Shack and KJHK’s music when he was in junior high. He was biking through the woods when he stumbled upon the “secret little house.” VanBlarcum said he was disillusioned with other radio stations and found a new love in KJHK’s sound. He said KJHK brought him back to music.

VanBlarcum said he was sad to see the station leaving The Shack behind, but said he understood it was a necessity.

“I feel the move to the Union is a good thing,” VanBlarcum said. “More funding, more space and better equipment can only make the station better.”

Although KJHK employees also found it bittersweet to leave The Shack behind, Nickels said the move had a lot of support. The building, which was built in 1929 as a garage for Dean of the Medical School Mervin T. Sudler, is not American Disability Association compliant.

Nickels said The Shack was also too small to house all of KJHK’s departments, such as the station’s news organization, which is located at the Dole Human Development Center.

“Now we can consolidate everybody into one space and everyone can work together a bit better,” Nickels said.

Nickels said KJHK employees planned to incorporate aspects of The Shack into the new space. Employees will move graffitied shelving, sticker-covered doors and concert posters to the Union in memory of The Shack.

— Edited by Nick Gerik