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BBC Scotland's Alan Mackay
"The building will retain the Scotsman name when it becomes a hotel"
 real 28k

BBC Scotland's Miranda Hurst
"The old North Bridge site retains its newspaper character"
 real 28k

Monday, 22 November, 1999, 20:08 GMT
Scotsman newspaper pens new chapter
The Scotsman's new building will be next to the new parliament

The Scotsman newspaper moves into new purpose-built premises at Holyrood - after almost a century in the middle of Edinburgh.

Journalists and other Scotsman staff, plus workers from its associated titles, will no longer call the imposing building at North Bridge home.

The company said it had outgrown its usefulness and the prime site has now been sold to a hotel developer - but the building will retain its Scotsman name.

The paper moves on Monday to the new offices which have been two years in the making.

The project cost £18m and the building is situated next to the site of the new Scottish parliament.

'Old fashioned hotel'

Albert Morris who has worked at the Scotsman since 1944 will be moving along with the rest of the staff.

He spoke fondly of the North Bridge centre which towers over the capital.

Albert Morris: "It won't be the same"
"The Scotsman building was a bastion of property and integrity of industry.

"You entered into an old fashioned hotel and when you went downstairs it felt as if you were at the centre of a large engine room," said Mr Morris.

The building still holds many of the characteristics of a well-worked newspaper office - although the printing presses stopped some years ago there remains winches to hoist bails of paper.

The new building is at the bottom end of the Royal Mile and is a fine example of a steel structure which makes the most of natural light and airy spaces.

Mr Morris added: "The old building was the equivalent of the steam age, the new one is a very good building. I don't know how special it will be but it will work."
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