750 Ridder Park Drive Architectural Drawings, 1965-1995

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Summary

Creators:
Heid, Warren B. San Jose Mercury-news
Abstract:
Extent:
10 cubic feet
Language:
Preferred citation:

750 Ridder Park Drive Architectural Drawings. History San Jose Research Library

Background

Scope and content:

Collection of architectural plans for the former San Jose Mercury News plant at 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, designed by Warren B. Heid, including original construction in 1965-1966 and later expansions and renovations, including the 1979 plant expansion, 1985 renovations and additional presses, and 1995 improvements. These sets of plans were housed and used at the Mercury News site. They were kept onsite after the plant was sold, and later transferred to History San Jose in their original cabinets. As well as documenting the modernist aesthetic of the buildings and landscape design, the plans highlight the changes the Mercury News -- and the newspaper publishing industry in general -- underwent through three decades of shifting advertising revenues and technologies.

Biographical / historical:

The 750 Ridder Park Drive publishing plant was designed in the modernist style by Warren B. Heid, and built on 36 acres in 1965-1966. The paper moved its operations to the new location in 1967 after several locations in downtown San Jose. It operated at the Ridder Park Drive location until 2014, when a downsized operation moved back to downtown San Jose. The site was sold to Super Micro Computer, Inc.

Acquisition information:
Donated to History San Jose in 2018 by Super Micro Computer.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to the public for research by appointment.

Terms of access:

Contact the Research Library & Archives for information on publication and reproduction.

Preferred citation:

750 Ridder Park Drive Architectural Drawings. History San Jose Research Library

Location of this collection:
1661 Senter Road
San Jose, CA 95112, US
Contact:
(408) 287-2290
research@historysanjose.org
Website