Formerly consisting of small, segmented spaces, a variety of work configurations were designed for the new space, adaptable for employees’ needs.

A San Francisco Bay institution for 97 years, the San Francisco Chronicle required a newsroom design that reflected the evolution of communication—bringing the past, present and future together. The office space was the victim of a series of small changes over the years and in need of modernization in all senses: technology, amenities and design aesthetic. With an extensive background in historic renovation and adaptive reuse, HGA was the ideal choice to achieve the Chronicle’s goal of creating a more modern, open and collaborative experience—infused with technology— while respecting its heritage as the city’s oldest newspaper.

Although a major San Francisco Chronicle remodel had been rumored for over a decade, the time was finally right in 2021 when most of the newsroom staff was working from home due to the pandemic. While changes to the newsroom over the years were not uncommon—occasional new furniture, the introduction of computers in the 1980s, etc.—HGA’s renovation is the most revolutionary in its history.