A construction crew removes the WRAL-TV sign from the side of the studios on Thursday, March 29, 2018, as part of the remodelling of the lobby and older areas of the WRAL-TV Studios building.

The outside of the WRAL-TV Studios no longer bears the Big 5 logo, at least for now. A construction crew took down the WRAL-TV signs on the outside of the studios on Western Blvd on Thursday, March 29, 2018.  WRAL-TV isn’t going anywhere; the building is getting a much-needed upgrade.

A long-planned renovation of the older part of the WRAL-TV building got underway in the late winter. The remodel includes the areas that housed CBC New Media offices on the second floor and the former Engineering and Master Control areas on the first floor.

Those areas are being gutted and the footprint of the building expanded, with the east-facing brick wall being removed and extended.

The project will result in larger and more open workspaces with natural light and an enlarged lobby.  As a result the lobby has been temporarily relocated to the Corporate building.  Signage on the campus now directs visitors to the temporary lobby.  All visitors must check in and out from this temporary lobby location.

Many windows will be added as part of the project, and the new space will include a new 10-person conference room and several smaller collaboration areas.  A new staircase in the center of the space will be added between the first and second floors.

“When the project is finished, we’re going to have a beautiful and productive work space, and it will blend nicely with the rest of the CBC campus,” said WRAL.com General Manager John Conway.

Thanks to FOX 50’s Jimmy Gamble for the capcom photos of the sign removal.