Lakeland PBS’ Brainerd office is going through an exciting renovation. Lakeland moved in to the building 20 years ago and is looking forward to office and studio space that will be efficient and better fit their needs.

“It was time. We moved in here 20 years ago and things were looking a little tattered. You can only shampoo the carpet so many times,” said Lakeland PBS Brainerd Station Manager Dan Hegstad.

Lakeland’s Brainerd office, which they originally moved into in the late ’90s, is undergoing a much-needed renovation.

“We moved in here 20 years ago but the building, parts of it have been here since the late ’50s, parts I think in the early ’60s,” added Hegstad.

The remodel project has been in the works for the last three years.

“Last week, they started actually putting up the walls and they’ll be sheetrocking pretty soon,” Hegstad said. “Probably two to three months is what we’re looking at.”

Some of the main upgrades in the remodel will be improvements to the entryway and to the studio.

“We’re going to have a little reception area where people can sit and watch TV. Our studio space here will be about a third bigger, which is very nice,” added Hegstad.

The bathroom will also be getting some much needed TLC.

“It is now going to be ADA compliant, and that’s pretty important to us,” said Hegstad.

Lakeland PBS is looking forward to an office and studio that fits their needs and is also more efficient.

“Now we have a new efficient HVAC system. All the duct work is out of here so we just have so many more options to use here in Brainerd,” Hegstad said. “We’ll actually be proud to have people come in here. It was a little hesitant before.”

If everything goes smoothly, Lakeland hopes to be in their new, remodeled office space in June 2019.

By — Rachel Johnson

Lakeland News Lead Reporter