WYEP-FM's (91.3) future home on South Side's historic Bedford Square is several steps closer to reality.

Designed by the architecture firm Davis Gardner Gannon Pope, the new structure will use environmentally sound "green" design and construction principles and will blend with the historic character of surrounding buildings.

The project will cost about $2.8 million: $2 million for land purchase and building construction, $450,000 for new equipment, $150,000 for architecture and engineering fees and $200,000 for campaign and marketing expenses.

The station is already more than halfway to its goal for its "Turn It Up!" capital campaign, according to WYEP general manager Lee Ferraro.

So far, nearly $1.7 million has been committed, with $1.3 million in foundation support, including $500,000 from the Vera I. Heinz Endowment and $500,000 from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. WYEP will launch a public fund-raising campaign to generate listener support later this summer.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for fall, with a target completion date of summer 2005.

WYEP has outgrown its current home on East Carson Street and also needs to upgrade some of its transmission equipment. The new WYEP Community Broadcast Center will include a 100-seat performance studio, where audiences can hear live broadcasts and concerts.

The added space also will allow the station to host workshops and seminars. Other plans include expanded internship programs in sound engineering, production, programming, marketing and multimedia.

One goal in establishing the new facility is to increase interaction between the station and the public, giving WYEP new ways to have an impact on the local cultural scene, Ferraro said.

"Pittsburgh will have a community broadcast center, and there are going to be lots of great things besides radio coming out of it, although radio will remain the core," Ferraro said.