Steel landscraper taking shape in King’s Cross

Structural steelwork erection is currently progressing on Google’s new UK headquarters building at King’s Cross in London.

Designed by lead consultant BDP, working alongside concept architects Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group, the 11-storey building has been described as a horizontal skyscraper, or landscraper, because of its more than 300m length.

Located alongside King’s Cross Station, the building will comprise of more than 60,400m² of office space, set above retail and an events training centre at ground floor.   

The office accommodation will also provide ancillary spaces including cafes, a gym, multi-use games area (MUGA) and pool facilities. At roof level, landscaped terraces and a running track will provide outdoor amenity and recreation space for employees.

A combination of active and passive environmental design considerations have been incorporated, with the project targeting a minimum of BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and LEED ‘Gold’, with an aspiration of achieving ‘Outstanding’ and ‘Platinum’ respectively. This new building, combined with the current building at 6 Pancras Square and an additional third building, will create a Google campus with the potential to house 7,000 Google employees.

The new building will contribute to the Knowledge Quarter and King’s Cross’s growing knowledge-based economy. This building will be the first wholly-owned and designed Google building outside the United States.

Working for main contractor Lend Lease, Severfield is fabricating, supplying and erecting 17,000t of steel for the project.