BHG master plan, newsroom design p.38

By: Editorial Staff THE OWENSBORO, KY., Messenger-Inquirer retained Blevins Harding Group to redesign its newsroom and select more appropriate and ergonomic furniture for better space utilization, lighting, workstation layout, communications and appearance. The changes promote flexibility, technology integration and a transition to teams.
Boulder, Colo.-based BHG said the paper's "traditional 'assembly line' " newsroom required reshaping to respond to significant organizational and production changes.
The plan also appropriates the building's lobby for use as a glass-enclosed conference room for fostering a relationship with the public.
BHG also created a master plan for the expansion of the Messenger-Inquirer's packaging center.
The guide for equipment and facility enhancements resulted from work with the paper's management and production planning team to identify long-term trends and growth projections and assign priorities to goals related to finer zoning and improved process communications, package quality and production of niche market products.
The master plan provides for additional space for workers and for work-in-process staging, more insert storage and increased inserting outputs. The paper is reviewing capital cost projections and schedule issues for the first part of the plan, which involves installation of a 14-head inserter.