Bates Smart ™

The new building, designed by Bates Smart, showcases The Age as a leading media organisation, and a great place to work. It embraces the ‘New Fairfax’ that sees the merging of print and digital platforms under one roof.

In addition to smart new workplace solutions, the design incorporates a ground breaking News Desk of the Future alongside digital studios to support the Age’s multi-media focus. Other special amenities include a flexible and technology enhanced Auditorium, meeting and training facilities, a publicly accessible Café and The Age Gallery.

The workplace has been designed to be a great place for staff. The highly open plan approach to the workplace ensures penetration of natural light and the location of all individual work points away from the window ensures a high degree of equity – nobody owns the window. Staff are provided with choice within the workplace, access to a range of workplace amenities including enclosed privacy rooms, open and enclosed meeting spaces and collaborative breakout zones.

Workflows formed the basis for the design solution including the unique design of the News Desk, where the furniture solution reflects the deadline focused critical information flows within the news team.

The workplace has a high degree of in-built flexibility to enable the workplace to support organisational change and media evolution. The workplace will continue to be current for The Age well into the future.