Coal Drops Yard boutique retail centre opens its doors

The steel-framed Coal Drops Yard retail scheme, the latest development in Argent’s King’s Cross master plan has been completed and is now open to the public.

Designed by Heatherwick Studio, the retail scheme has been built on the site’s Victorian coal drops and uses over 80,000 roof tiles from North Wales and 1,300t of structural steelwork.

The original structures, built in the 1850s, have had several uses and inhabitants over the years, most recently offices and nightclubs. It now houses more than 9,000m² of space for some of the world’s leading retail brands as well as a host restaurants.

Working on behalf of main contractor BAM, Severfield fabricated, supplied and erected the project’s steelwork (see NSC April 2017).

The company also designed a system of bespoke temporary works that were required to support the new feature steel ‘kissing’ roof during construction.

Thomas Heatherwick, Founder of Heatherwick Studio, said: “It has been a privilege working on Coal Drops Yard, not only because it’s the studio’s first major building completed in London, but also because it is in King’s Cross, where my studio and I have been based for the last 17 years.

“These amazing Victorian structures were never originally built to be inhabited by hundreds of people, but instead formed part of the sealed-off infrastructure of London.

“Our design creates new spaces and allows everyone to experience these rich and characterful buildings.”