Newsquest: Telegraph & Argus
Giving a local Grade II-listed building a newspaper office fit-out
Newsquest, an American media company, had acquired several local UK newspapers, including those based in York, Kendall, Oxford and Bradford. Due to the move towards digital media over print, Newsquest was gradually reducing its number of printworks and moving its offices into smaller buildings.
Richardsons was brought in to support Newsquest in relocating the Telegraph and Argus in Bradford from its original location to a 16th-century manor house.
The brief
The aim of the project was to convert the 16th-century manor house, which had been carefully restored by the landlord and Historic England, into a functional workspace suited for a local media office.
This would involve adapting the layout from a two-up, two-down configuration to include open-plan offices suited to various departments, as well as social areas and spaces for journalists to carry out interviews.
Our approach
As the building was Grade II listed, our team worked closely with external consultants to ensure sensitivity in our approach to modifications. This close collaboration and our experience in working on other protected buildings meant that we were able to effectively convert the space while remaining sympathetic to the building’s historic features.
As well as converting structural aspects of the space, our team worked carefully on the editorial office design, incorporating media office furniture to create a modern and productive workspace that complemented the 16th-century building.
The result
The newspaper office fit-out has given the Telegraph & Argus an efficient and attractive office that has retained the character of its protected building.
Two productive offices
Two floors for separate departments, with journalists working downstairs and accounts working upstairs
Staff kitchen spaces
A new kitchen space on each floor providing staff with somewhere to get coffee, prepare lunch and relax.
Open lounge area
Dedicated comfortable lounge intended for interviews with local MPs, business leaders and celebrities.
Bespoke wall art
Custom feature wall dedicated to bespoke prints of Bradford newspaper headlines dating back over 100 years.
The impact
The Bradford media office’s furniture, design and layout have successfully converted a historical manor house into a functional and attractive workspace for the Telegraph & Argus. Newsquest and its staff were delighted with the result, leading to a long-standing working relationship and several more newspaper office fit-out projects since.