Studio launched in pioneering redevelopment
A new podcast studio has been launched at 34 Boar Lane, in Leeds.
Owners Kinrise have transformed the building in the heart of the city into a creative office, retail and leisure centre.
The podcast studio was launched this week in collaboration with Leeds-based online radio station Sable Radio.
Samuel Lawson Johnston, co-founder of Kinrise, explained: “The studio will give building residents, local projects and local companies the platform to create and broadcast their own podcast content.
“Together with Sable, we hope to protect and promote culture and creativity within the city whilst linking creative and community groups with the business community. We are proud to be working with Sable and believe the project will have a very positive effect on the city’s creative economy.
“The studio fits in perfectly with our vision for 34 Boar Lane and, indeed, our buildings in Manchester, Canada House and The Albert Estate. Our aim is to inspire companies and communities and enable them to flourish.
“Our buildings have a variety of flexible spaces, a mixture of co-working desks, small studios for start-ups and large offices for multi-nationals. Shared spaces create environments that inspire collaboration with events spaces, gyms, cafés and restaurants.”
Baile Ali of Sable Radio, which was launched 10 months ago and is based in Mabgate, said: “We are excited to be working on this project with Kinrise, especially considering our first pilot broadcast was from this space. So it’s nice to see the relationship come full circle.
“We will be recording and engineering podcasts for residents of 34 Boar Lane but the studio will also be available to Leeds’ wider commercial and creative community.
“We are looking forward both to being part of the cultural and artistic ambience of a very special building as well as the chance to extend our current practise into the realm of more polished podcast production and writing.”
Grace Ellerby, community manager of 34 Boar Lane, explained: “Fundamental to good working environments is a good culture, and that can only develop in spaces where people have opportunities to socialise, collaborate and participate in activities with the wider community.
“As such we place a real focus on ensuring that the common space isn’t an afterthought, but is central to the design of the building. So, in all our buildings, we host and support events and activities designed to stimulate growth and development.
“We also facilitate co-working and provide mentoring, support and workshops. Through our support of art, music and wellbeing events we bring the community together, and make it our mission to buy local and create partnerships between businesses and charities.”
Lawson Johnston added: “We are passionate about city’s heritage and soul living on for the future and real cultural capital remaining in the centre rather than being pushed further out of cities.
“Our tenant-leasing structure enables us to welcome entrepreneurs for just a month in co-working through to 25 years for established businesses. This is a unique approach.”
34 Boar Lane is a 57,000 sq ft building, with 46,000 sq ft of office space over five floors. It is immediately opposite the railway station in the heart of the city’s professional and retail quarters.
