The Challenge:
The building, set alongside St Pancras Lock on Regent’s Canal, is technically complex as it sits on top of an existing energy centre and is in close proximity to the Cross Channel high-speed rail line.
The unusual and complex brief included an energy centre for the wider King’s Cross development scheme and a mix of affordable and market housing. Coupled with the challenges of building above railway tunnels, adjacent to a railway line and canal; the result of the complex build is a refined, elegant and cohesive development.
The scheme includes the largest energy centre of its kind in the UK, containing an electrical primary substation that fulfils all of the 92-acre development’s electricity needs. Kier applied the latest technologies and energy-efficient building design to facilitate Argent’s aim to cut carbon emissions by at least 50 per cent, compared with 2005 levels.
The Solution:
Taking lessons learned from our other residential developments, we devised a solution for the connection details and construction sequence that negated the need for scaffolding. This was safer, quicker and cheaper, ultimately providing client Argent with a better quality of build.
The working environment adjacent to the Kings Cross Network Rail lines meant that regular dialogue took place and site-specific detailed method statements, including risk assessments, were required to be issued to Network Rail for approval.
A minimum of four weeks was required by Network Rail for approval of these method statements. To safely install the façade along the western façade, our method statement was based on BFT mast climbers being erected and operational, and exclusion zones agreed with Network Rail prior to the works commencing. Vibration monitoring equipment was also installed as agreed with Network Rail.
The Impact:
Designed by Niall McLoughlin Architects, the RIBA London award-winning building features rooftop gardens that provide both communal areas and stunning views over London. A 462-space multi-storey car park, multi-use games area and retail units, cafés, bar and restaurant provides further amenities. At level eight, there is a secluded roof garden, designed by Dan Pearson Studio, along with a gym and function room.
An exquisite, sculpted façade wraps around the building, which is made of lightweight, glass-reinforced precast concrete panels, coloured in deep terracotta. Prefabricated balconies and bay windows span in-between, and the building is scribed with Egyptian motifs and 1960s op-art patterns to create a contemporary ornamentation. The 2,400 façade panels were manufactured offsite by Techcrete, and pre-installed on a steel frame for speed of installation. The architectural etched finish was achieved by exposing the finished panels to a washdown with a dilute acid-based solution, which gave the façade its unique textured finish.
Interior specialists Johnson Naylor designed the beautiful interiors, endeavouring to incorporate materials, textures and three-dimensional spaces that were in keeping with the architectural style and environment of the building.
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Every project we deliver is an opportunity for us to bring our unique thinking to solve problems, innovate and collaborate with our clients and beyond.
The Fulmar
The Fulmar is part of the Greenwich Peninsula Regeneration Scheme, consisting of three residential blocks, comprising 139 flats, surrounding a central landscaped podium courtyard. The blocks range in height from four to 10 storeys, housing 60 apartments for outright sale, 19 for intermediate (shared ownership) and 60 for rent properties.
Bolanachi Building cladding and fire stopping works
A cladding project delivered using an innovative Gridline System and underpinned by strong resident engagement.
Greenwood Centre
Redevelopment of 25 & 37 Greenwood Place to provide a new 3,600m2 resource and community services centre run by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities. As part of Camden Council’s Community Investment Programme (CIP) it forms a hub for all services that was previously spread across the borough.
South Bank Place multi-utility design project
A short-term central London consultancy project turned into a ground-breaking multi-utility project, moving eight utilities to prepare for a new 800-apartment development, setting the standard in how these projects should be delivered in the capital.
St Albans Place
Constructing an 18-storey, concrete-framed student accommodation block in the centre of Leeds, close to the A64, consisting of 376 studios with communal dining areas, cinema room, gym, coffee lounge and a management suite.
Morley House
The redevelopment of the Grade II listed block on London's Regent Street. Morley House will house 44 apartments. On the ground and basement levels will be 11,000 sq. ft of retail space.
Global Student Accommodation (GSA), Exeter
We completed Clifford House, a student housing association project, for Global Student Accommodation (GSA), two weeks early. It’s our second project for GSA and provides state-of-the-art student accommodation for 312 students studying at Exeter University.
Crossrail
Constructing two railway tunnels that run for 6.4km between the Royal Oak portal and the new Farringdon Crossrail station in Central London. Huge scale building of station tunnel caverns at Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Farringdon for the new Elizabeth line.
Park Hill
Refurbishing phase three of the derelict, Grade II-listed Park Hill Flats estate to form 356 bedrooms of student accommodation while respecting the identity and integrity of the iconic building.
Tapestry, King’s Cross
Tapestry provides an outstanding collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments, townhouses and penthouses. Set over 10-15 storeys, the 33,000 sq m development integrates extensive public realm and leisure facilities for the residents of the 129 apartments.
5 Pancras Square
One of the most sustainable mixed-use building in the country and winner of the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building award.
Reigate Grange Care Home
Creating a three-story luxury care home with a range of amenities and landscaped gardens.
North Middlesex University Hospital
Our North Middlesex University Hospital (NMUH) project was a £53.6 million re-development comprising of 5 separate projects including units for Strokes, HIV, Women’s & Children’s Services, retained estates, infrastructure and external works. We treated each unit as an individual project with its own project team.
Delivering high quality and value for money fire safety works
Deliver a full range of fire safety works annually, including compartmentalisation, warning systems and fire doors across a range of property types with a wide geographical spread.
Parkside Estate: planned maintenance
Delivering a major programme of internal and external planned works for Clarion Housing across 17 high-rise blocks in East London. The programme included kitchen and bathroom updates, mechanical and electrical renewals, roof, brickwork and concrete repairs, groundworks, fire safety and redecorations.
Kier and TfL prove full closures are the future
Kier’s emergency road closure on the A2 proves full closures are the way forward for 2019’s network management programme.
A13 Road Widening Project
The A13 Road Widening Project is being delivered by Kier on behalf of Thurrock Council. The works include adding an additional lane in both directions between Orsett and Stanford-le-Hope and replacing four bridges. It will support economic growth, reduce congestion and enhance safety.
Fire safety delivery and resident liaison
Delivered fire stopping and compartmentalisation to 18 fully occupied tower blocks carrying out works on a strict weekly timetable to minimise disruption to residents.
Diana Princess of Wales Hospital Staff Accommodation
Construction of new staff accommodation at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital for staff and student nurses
Residential Home Sprinkler Install
A retrofit installation of a fire sprinkler system into 63 one and two bedroom flats and communal spaces in a residential home at Ragallo Place in Kent.
Planned Works Framework
We deliver works to a broad variety of property archetypes, including leasehold properties, purpose-built and conversion flats, terraced, detached and semi-detached houses, estates-based properties, high and low rise blocks, sheltered housing and listed buildings.
The Aperture
The Aperture is the first phase of residential buildings on the Greenwich Peninsula. This five storey building comprises of a restaurant and deli on the ground floor, day nursery on the first floor, estate management and a community centre on the second/third floors with a gym on the remaining floors.
Stonegate
The Stonegate development will see 113 new homes providing a range of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom properties.
Waterside Student Residences
A joint venture with Kier Major Projects for the University of Northampton. The project marked the first time Kier had committed to a large-scale Light Gauge Steel (LGS) frame project and is the largest LGS project to date in the UK.
Sheraton Park Student Accommodation
Updating Durham University student accommodation, refurbishing and converting one block and demolishing and rebuilding a second, catering for a mixture of mixture of undergraduates, post-graduates, returning students, and includes a mix of en-suite bedrooms, studios and accessible bedrooms.
Watford Riverwell
Delivering the £450m Watford Riverwell as a 15-20 year joint venture with Watford Borough Council, which involves regenerating 70 acres of land in West Watford to create residential, office, retail, leisure, industrial and hotel space.
Sainsbury Wellcome Centre
A unique, world-class, state of the art neuroscience research institute at University College London.
Slade Green Regeneration
The simultaneous extension and refurbishment of two neighbouring primary schools.
Westminster Bridge South Scheme
Easing congestion at this iconic London tourist location by integrating and coordinating pedestrian, cycling and traffic movements; using detailed planning techniques and innovative use of materials to minimise closure locations and durations; and responding quickly to changing security requirements after a terrorist attack just before the work was to begin.
58 Victoria Embankment
Located on the River Thames Embankment, this project involved the demolition of the existing building behind a retained façade and the construction of a new steel framed Cat A office with a concrete basement. Inside the building, being the main feature is the central atrium and 3 scenic glass lifts.
Camberley Town Centre
Create a mixed-use regeneration scheme on this strategic site.
Harris Girls' Academy Bromley
The demolition, refurbishment and three-story new build of a local all-girls school located in South London.
Hawkhead Village
Transforming the former site of Hawkhead Hospital into Hawkhead Village, a residential community bringing together restored Art Deco buildings and new homes. Achieving Show Home of the Year in the Scottish Home Awards 2015 and Best Renovation/Conversion in The Herald Property Awards for Scotland 2017.
Manor Kingsway
Transforming the former Manor and Kingsway Hospitals situated 1.5 miles west of Derby city centre, creating a diverse and thriving community of 700 homes with recreational facilities, retail space and a business park to create 450 jobs.
Kingston’s Portsmouth Road
Transforming a London Borough of Kingston Road into a model for healthy streets. Creating cycle tracks and cycle parking, whilst communicating with local residents and businesses.
Howick Place
Situated close to Westminster Cathedral, Howick Place is an architecturally stunning building designed by Rolfe Judd Architecture. The building takes inspiration from the surrounding conservation area, whilst creating an environment to meet all 21st century needs.
Harlow Rugby Club partnership
Unlocking new homes through partnership working in Harlow.
Gatwick Airport Car Park 6
Designing and structurally refurbishing one of Gatwick Airport's largest multi storey car parks, expanding parking and storage areas, and working with many stakeholders to ensure that all safety, quality and commercial aspects were delivered in accordance with the airport’s stringent standards.
Fixed Telecom Network
The biggest telecoms project ever on Britain's railways.
Cross Keys Homes
An innovative joint venture to provide much needed housing to parts of the East of England.
Chalcots Estate, call to action fire risk work
Assisting with the evacuation of 650 families from the estate after receiving a call from Camden Council at 5.30pm on Friday 23 June 2017, undertaking emergency fire remedial works, working overnight to fit fire door closers and carrying out an additional programme of fire upgrade works.
Bilston Urban Village
Developing a collection of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes, creating a mixed tenure development that will bring 58 homes to the open market along with 20 new affordable homes and supporting a group of local trainees.
Bank Station Capacity Upgrade
Delivering a 100% BIM3 compliant utilities design at one of London’s busiest interchanges, Bank Station. Serving 73 million passengers annually, situated between London Bridge and the Bank of England.
The Grove School
Undertaking a major refurbishment of a former Council building, originally a late Edwardian school, into a new school in Haringey, for 104 students aged 5–19 who have a primary diagnosis of autism.
Balaam Wood
Kier Living was responsible for creating the revolutionary and award-winning mixed tenure, sustainable and affordable new community in Birmingham. The project delivered a range of house types to appeal to the broadest demographic possible with the aim of giving residents an extra 10% living space.
Tiger Way
Kier Design and Business Services working in partnership with the London Borough of Hackney to deliver mixed-use developments and education schemes to create revenue for further local investment.
33 Foley Street
Delivering a central London office space where people feel inspired and want to work and collaborate, bringing together a number of Kier businesses to work jointly on the project, adding an extra floor to the building and extending two other floors to create a stunning modern space.
Wedge House
Building a striking new build boutique hotel with works comprising the design, construction and fit out of 192 hotel rooms, 4,700m2 Cat A office space and full fit out of three floors of bars and restaurants.
Alperton Community School
The build of a new school and demolition works of the old premises, increasing capacity from 750 to 1700 pupils.
One Station Square
Working with Newlon Housing Trust, the project involves the demolition of the existing structure and the design and construction of a new residential development of 128 dwellings comprising 117 shared ownership flats,11 private sale flats plus 1 commercial unit to shell and core finish.
Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls
Building a brand new 8 form of entry school situated in Thamesmead in South East London. The new school holds 1,200 pupils and includes teaching spaces, science laboratories, ICT suites, a dance studio, art and music rooms plus a large four court sports hall and hard court play area.
Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Khoo Teck Puat iMRI Suite
Our Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) iMRI project involved the construction of a three-storey building, adjacent to their existing theatres in the centre of their site, for a new iMRI suite and rehabilitation gym. The new MRI scanner was integrated into the new operating theatre to create a seamless brain imaging process during surgeries.
Gosport Borough Council - responsive repairs and planned maintenance
Delivering responsive repairs and planned maintenance to 3200 homes in Gosport as well as specialist works including gas systems, electrical works and major disabled adaptations. Every year we deliver over 12,000 repairs and take approximately 17,000 calls.