Based inside one of Newcastle's most significant historical buildings, NBS is a tech platform for everyone involved in the design, supply and construction of the built environment. As the company celebrates 50 years since its launch, we take a closer look at NBS and the iconic space it inhabits.
NBS calls the Old Post Office - a 19th century Grade II-listed building on St Nicholas' Street - home. Its head office is an apt location; once a hub of communication and cutting-edge technologies for its time, it has since been refurbished into housing modern, purpose-built offices delivering software and services to its clients whilst retaining the glorious Doric columned façade, blending traditional and contemporary architectural styles perfectly.
Image: The Old Post Office Building, 1876
NBS Marketing Manager Izy Herrera explained the significance of the company’s 50th year celebrations and how the building’s previous history and original occupants mirror that of its current inhabitants.
“We launched the very first version of our service in 1973 - the ‘National Building Specification’ - as four printed volumes, which provided specification information for construction products. Over time these books, that would require rewrites as specifications and materials changed, became binders with interchangeable inserts. As technology developed so has NBS, moving to digital versions on floppy discs, CDs and now cloud-based platforms allowing construction professionals to create specifications and access product information 24/7.”
Changes to the way NBS’s services are delivered reflect the manner in which the Old Post Office building was itself adapted to meet the demand within its walls since the building’s original construction in the 1880s. As communication needs changed and increased the Old Post Office became a vital hub in Newcastle and the North East generally, handling 80+ million letters and almost 2 million parcels a year, not to mention nearly 5 million telegrams by the turn of the 20th century alone. Further demand during World War I and World War II saw even bigger increases due to military mail and resulted in newer technologies replacing older, less efficient methods.
Image: The Old Post Office Building, 1965
In 2016 NBS invested in a £5.8 million renovation and refurbishment that led to NBS now offering a range of “collaborative and socialising spaces that benefits everyone from staff to clients."
“They’re perfect for an innovative tech business like NBS…one that was tech before tech!" says Izy. The business’ forward-thinking has resulted in a building that works for both clients and conducting day-to-day business, all while retaining historic external references to the building’s past.
So, as the company enjoys its 50th anniversary, it’s using its yearlong celebrations to implement what Izy Herrera calls 50 Acts of Kindness. “This encompasses all kinds of events, charitable activities and community endeavours to benefit the region and engage even closer with the North East, its home and people."
Image: The Old Post Office by Roderick Alder, Wallington Gallery
There is a lot more to see behind the historic fronts of Newcastle’s buildings wherever you walk. NBS, with its entrance mirrored directly opposite with St Nicholas’s Cathedral, looks into the future using its cutting-edge innovation that helps the region continue to prosper, following in the footsteps of great architects who designed, built and gave their names to much of the city.
