Office Conversion Photography Leeds – RKA Architects | Dug Wilders

Client: RKA Architects
Project Location: Leeds

This architectural photography project documents the transformation of The Electric Press in Leeds, where a former industrial building has been converted into a contemporary commercial office space by RKA Architects. The brief was to capture both the external architecture and the internal working environments, highlighting how the character of the original building has been retained while introducing modern office layouts and amenities.

A large, three-storey red-brick building with arched windows at a street corner during dusk, with light trails from passing vehicles.

The project combines historic industrial fabric with contemporary interventions, including new circulation spaces, meeting areas and rooftop terraces. The photography focused on showing the relationship between original materials—such as exposed brickwork and structural elements—and the modern finishes, furniture and lighting that define the new workspace.

A modern interior with black metal stairs, wood accents, red cushioned seating, and a red neon SWITCH sign on the wall.

The shoot took place across both daytime and evening conditions, allowing the building to be documented in natural light as well as during dusk and night-time city lighting. Drone photography at sunset was used to place the building within the wider Leeds cityscape, emphasising its position within the surrounding mix of historic and modern architecture.

Modern meeting room with pink chairs and a kitchenette, open to a terrace; the Electric Press brick tower visible in the background.

Internally, the building offers a variety of workspaces across multiple floors, from open-plan office areas to meeting rooms and breakout spaces. The photography highlights the diversity of these environments and the quality of the design, demonstrating how an industrial structure can be successfully adapted into a flexible, contemporary commercial setting.

Top-down view of a modern wooden staircase with metal railings and mesh panels, surrounded by dark walls and illuminated by warm lighting.

These photographs were produced for RKA Architects’ portfolio and promotional use, forming part of my wider architectural photography work across Leeds, Yorkshire and the UK, documenting commercial developments, office fit-outs and adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

Aerial view of Leeds at sunset, with illuminated buildings, a central square, and a dramatic sky with clouds and fading sunlight
A symmetrical, three-storey red brick building with large arched windows, illuminated interior, and a central entrance on a city street.
Evening view of The Electric Press building in a cityscape with modern and historic architecture under a blue, cloudy sky.
A rooftop terrace at dusk features modern seating and tables, illuminated by lights, with a large mural depicting industrial-themed artwork and the text CARRIAGE WORKS 1894.