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A sophisticated workplace by Gensler reflects the transformation of a newspaper into a multiplatform news provider
The commission to design a new headquarters for The Washington Post is a heady task, given the paper's storied history, its more than 60 Pulitzer Prizes, and its position as the leading source for news in our nation's capital. Gensler took on this role, which was even more challenging given that the work of journalists in content creation and distribution is rapidly evolving.
"There really is no paradigm for media today. The whole workflow is changing drastically," says Sumita Arora, principal and media practice area leader at Gensler, who oversaw the project with John McKinney, design director. "At the heart of this project was the idea of helping a legendary newspaper company evolve into a media and technology enterprise. We did not take that lightly."
Founded in 1877, The Washington Post had moved into its previous home on 15th Street in 1972, the same year that Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein broke the Watergate story under the leadership of Executive Editor Ben Bradlee. The 1976 film "All the President's Men," based on the book by Woodward and Bernstein, portrayed the Post newsroom as a bright, fluorescent-lit office filled with big metal desks and clanging typewriters. In reality, that old newsroom was nothing special, with inefficient interiors cobbled together within three connected buildings, but it was home to superb journalists who were often breaking the important stories in government and politics. So any move was a big deal for employees. While the Post owned that building, it had set its sights on leasing its next home, resulting in the move becoming a hot real estate deal in the District. Every office building owner wanted the Post as a tenant.
Gensler assisted the Post in the exhaustive search for a new office location, narrowing down from 32 locations. As this process continued, the long-time owners, the Graham family, announced the paper's sale to Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, for $250 million in August 2013. Gensler proceeded with the project, now with a client who would push the brand to become a digital media company with a global reach.
The Post selected 1301 K Street, NW, also...