CitySpace

What: CitySpace

Where: 890 Commonwealth Ave.

Owner: Boston University

Built: 2018-2019

WBUR has broken ground on CitySpace, a new ground-floor convening space at its Commonwealth Avenue headquarters on the Boston-Brookline border. The facility will host debates, lectures, films, musical performances and radio broadcasts.

A $5 million gift from Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine, the largest in WBUR history, supported creation of CitySpace and the Lavine Broadcast Center. Other lead funders include the Barr Foundation, Josh and Anita Bekenstein, The Davis Family Charitable Foundation and The Gannon Family Foundation.

Scheduled for completion in early 2019, the 7,500-square-foot space was designed by architects Cambridge Seven Assoc. with acoustical designs by Acentech. Lee Kennedy Co. is the construction manager.

CitySpace includes a flexible seating plan for up to 240 guests, robotic high-definition video technology and theatrical lighting, a hydraulic stage and 9-by-16-foot video presentation wall.

“CitySpace serves as a critical part of our strategic plan to transform WBUR from a ‘radio-centric’ resource into a multiplatform, multimedia organization serving the public not only on air, but also online, on demand and on stage. We want CitySpace to bring the public together and help break down the silos in our community.”

— Charles Kravetz, general manager, WBUR