An Update Decades in the Making
Bringing KFYR-TV’s office space into this century
A Space Stuck In The Past
KFYR-TV, located in Bismarck, has long been a familiar name in North Dakota news. Established in 1954, the station has built a reputation rooted in consistency, visibility, and local trust. But over time, the physical space itself began to reflect its age.
Visitors stepping into the building could see it right away. The office space hadn’t kept pace with the modern broadcasting happening behind the scenes. While the work being produced was current and high-quality, the experience inside told a different story.
This became an opportunity to bring the space up to the same standard as the work being done inside it. For Vice President and General Manager Barry Schumaier, the goal was to align the physical environment with the quality KFYR-TV represents every day.
“We wanted people to come into our space and have a wow feeling,” Barry said. “We’re a very visual business and when you come here in person, it needs to live up to those expectations.”
The result was an upgrade that took their station entrance straight from the 80s into the modern day.
A Partnership Built On Trust
For Barry, choosing InterOffice to tackle this remodel was an easy decision.
He turned to InterOffice designer Kyle Hellman, who is part of the Bismarck team. Kyle has a long-standing relationship with KFYR-TV, having previously worked on multiple projects over the years, including newsroom and sports room updates.
That trust shaped the entire process. When Kyle shared the proposed design, Barry approved it without changes because he trusted his vision. From there, the project moved into a coordinated effort across InterOffice, contractors, and KFYR-TV leadership to create a unified plan. “I try to be that guide on every project,” Kyle said. “I like being involved through install, making sure everything is right and the client is taken care of.”
Barry described the experience simply: “It’s been nothing but a pleasure.”
Designing For The People In The Space
A key part of the process was designing the space for the people who use it every day.
Kyle met directly with the office manager who would be working in the entry area, ensuring the design supported real workflows, storage needs, and daily face-to-face interactions. “We always try to get the end user involved,” Kyle said. “Not just the decision makers, but the humans sitting in that space.”
That input helped shape how the space functions, especially in an area that serves as the station’s front door for guests, interview subjects, and community members.
“It was important that we brought others into the design process,” Barry shared. “I wanted them to have a voice because they’re the ones who spend most of the time in the area. Making sure it was functional for them was a must.”
Preserving History
The remodel also needed to work within the larger context of the building itself.
KFYR-TV is located in a historic downtown building, built in 1908. “There’s a lot of historic charm,” Barry said. “But we wanted a combination of modern while still respecting the age and character of the building.”
That balance became central to the design approach, blending updated finishes and furniture with the building’s original identity rather than covering it up. “Our job was to come in and finish this space in a way that felt modern but still fit the history of the building,” Kyle said.
Being able to balance a modern organization with the timeless nature of the building took care and attention to detail. Honoring the building itself while updating the space could have been difficult, but it was a challenge that turned into a success. “It’s hard to do,” Barry said. “But Kyle found the perfect tone.”
Welcome To The 21st Century
If there’s one word both Barry and Kyle return to, it’s transformation. And not a subtle one.
“We went from 1980 to 2026,” Barry said. “It was dramatic.”
The difference is immediate upon entering the news station, where a once-dated space has been transformed into a modern, warm welcome for everyone walking through the door. That moment carries real weight in a news environment, where visitors quickly form impressions of the organization.
“You’d like to have confidence in who you’re working with,” Barry said. “When people come up the steps and see our new office, they have confidence in us as a local business. Just like we had confidence in InterOffice.”
Your Space, Your Story
For KFYR-TV, the updated space is a reflection of a long-standing organization stepping confidently into a modern era while honoring its history.
Through a collaborative process built on trust, InterOffice helped translate that identity into an environment that finally matches the work happening inside.
From the 80s to today, the transformation is more than visual. It’s experiential. When someone walks through the doors, the message is immediate: this is a place you can trust.
”We wanted people to come into our space and have a wow feeling. We’re a very visual business and when you come here in person, it needs to live up to those expectations.
Barry Schumaier
