As a 115-year-old newspaper business, digital and cultural transformation were key to South China Morning Post’s (SCMP) new Hong Kong space. It needed to reflect SCMP’s commitment to telling global stories and attract a growing, digitally-skilled workforce. We designed a new space that supports its evolving digital offering and creates a physical expression of the firm’s culture.
Communication is integral to SCMP’s business. The goal was to promote collaboration across six floors, among team members from different locations. The workplace’s central atrium features a striking interior staircase connecting five of the six floors. Team communication is supported across different spaces including meeting rooms, breakout areas, collaboration zones and sprint areas. Interior offices and enclosed spaces are planned along the core, with natural light and views offering transparency.
The new agile work environment helps integrate people and space. A variety of flexible working options encourage movement and choice. Themed social hubs on each floor support interaction and collaboration across departments, including an arcade, yoga area, game room, café and English-themed pub. The English-themed pub is inspired by London’s Fleet Street – once considered the most important location for journalism in the world. Balancing communication with health and wellbeing, these social areas balance business-wide interaction with space for rest and relaxation.
Meeting rooms are designed around Hong Kong themes, inspired by local culture and surroundings. A collection of custom artworks commissioned by 14 local artists bring to life interior spaces. Artefacts from SCMP’s original Tai Po printing plant are displayed as a reminder of the firm’s heritage and its journey from print to digital media. Natural materials offer a neutral backdrop and floor finishes define circulation, with polished concrete and carpet tiles for acoustic comfort.
Digital touchpoints are prominent. Two connected newsroom floors with 140 monitors and mounted screens showcase SCMP’s data and analytics. These touchpoints offer real-time analysis on content performance and bring technology to the forefront of daily work at SCMP. The broadcasting hub has a video studio with a control room, edit rooms, editing hub, guest room, wardrobe and make-up area. The editorial hub (for filming), has a separate photo and broadcast studio. Experimental space for technology R&D signals SCMP’s drive towards digital content.
We wanted to make sure that the office space is a physical expression of our new culture, and provides the workspace and optionality to ensure our employees can live out this new culture.
Gary Liu, CEO, South China Morning Post
2018Hong Kong Interior Design Association - Certificate of Silver award
2018Perspective Magazine - Certificate of Excellence
2018Perspective Magazine - Best of Category
2018AIA International Region - Honor Award for Interior Architecture
Completed
2019
Hong Kong
76,600 sq ft
Vitus Lau
