How Gocha Kumsiashvili and his team reshaped the Georgian Public Broadcaster with a new media center, modern architecture, and future-ready production facilities. Interview with the Director of Broadcasting and Production of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, Gocha Kumsiashvili.
The decision to build the new GPB complex
— When and why was the decision made to build the new GPB complex?
Reorganization at the First Channel was inevitable: it was impossible to continue working under the previous conditions. The technological base had become obsolete, and the main building was in an emergency state. The foundation had sunk — the difference in height between the sides of the corridors was visible to the naked eye. The problem had existed for decades and was connected to groundwater, which was very difficult to divert.
The condition of the historical First Channel building
— What condition was the old building in?
Although the building had stabilized, it remained cracked. At the same time, it is a historical site, known as one of the modernist symbols of Tbilisi — a glass cube mentioned in architecture textbooks. It is located at the foot of the television tower. However, restoration required dismantling at least half of the structures, which was impossible without stopping broadcasting.
Reasons for building the new GPB Media Center
— Why did you decide to build a new media center despite economic risks?
Therefore, the decision was made to build a new media center for the First Channel. From a business perspective, television today is a costly and low-profit industry: advertising revenues are falling, moving to the internet. But for Georgia, television and radio are an important cultural tradition. This year, Georgian radio was recognized as a cultural heritage monument.
Government support and site selection for the new media center
— How was the project implemented?
The city authorities supported the project by allocating a plot of land — not in the center, but in a less prestigious area. The First Channel purchased this plot and began to assess the scope of the project. The process was lengthy and involved audience participation. Several competitions were held to determine what modern television should look like.
Defining the concept of the new GPB television and building
— How was the concept of the new television and the GPB building determined?
We held several competitions, and the last one took place in the format of a public online vote on our channel. Viewers chose the project that was then implemented.
Architectural features of the new GPB complex
— What architectural style was chosen?
The main theme was an open internal layout (open space) and on the outside, an openwork red steel structure with a glass façade. Such a design is difficult to compare with anything else; it is rare and unusual, but I believe in the end everyone will like it.
Financing the construction of the media center
— How was the financing of the construction resolved?
The second key question was where to find the funds. Although the Georgian Public Broadcaster receives budgetary funding annually by law, these funds only cover the operating costs of broadcasting. They were not sufficient for construction.
Initiators of the Project and Search for Solutions
— Who initiated the project and the search for solutions?
The driving force behind the project was Vasil Marlakovidze, who began the reforms together with the team that I joined six months later. At first as a consultant, and later as Technical Director. We had a talented financial specialist who developed the budget in such a way as to stretch the processes over time, take out a commercial loan from the bank, and conduct auctions for the sale of the old building together with the land plot.
Planning the Scale and Functionality of the New Complex
— How was the project assessed and its scale planned?
We calculated the value of the sale of the land and the building, and determined what volume the new complex should have. After the design principle was approved, a huge amount of work was carried out on describing the requirements: office spaces, the number and sizes of studios, parking spaces, cafes, elevators, and so on. All of this was done with calculations for development and needs projected ten years ahead.
Choosing the Architectural Company for the GPB Project
— How was the architectural company chosen?
After the technical assignment was prepared, a separate tender was held, which was won by a group of young architects. That was seven to eight years ago.
Final Design and Structure of the GPB Complex
— What happened next?
The process of final architectural design according to our requirements began. The complex includes several buildings, two of which are large.
Main Buildings and Structure of the New GPB Complex
— What does the new GPB complex include?
One building is an office building, where the Newsroom and the editorial offices of programs are located. The second block is a studio building with production control and studio facilities. There are a total of four studios, three of which are large.
The Largest Television Studio in Georgia
— Is there a studio among them that is unique in size?
One of the studios is the largest in Georgia. Within a radius of 500–600 kilometers, there are probably no larger studios, except possibly in Ankara or Istanbul. This makes it possible to film large-scale projects involving a significant number of people and to use many cameras.
Project Implementation Stages and the Impact of the Pandemic
— How did the implementation of the project proceed?
Planning began in 2017, and the idea originated in 2016–2017. Implementation started in 2018. The pandemic of 2019 coincided with the construction process, but work did not stop. The government understood that stopping construction would hit the economy, so it created conditions for its continuation. Even during quarantine, construction proceeded without interruption.
Personal Contribution and Participation in the Project
— At what stage did you become involved in the project?
I had been involved in the process for a long time, even before the start of the large-scale reorganization. I knew all the previous directors of the channel and the technical management, regularly discussed plans with them, performed calculations, and participated in smaller projects.
