Information about this scheme

This freestanding office building addresses the public area between Kings Cross and St Pancras International with a prominent south-facing front. Cast-iron columns define the loggia that wraps around the ground floor, and continue across the façades offering depth and character to the building. The ground floor accommodates two retail units, an Underground entrance and a lobby. The upper levels provide support-free open office spaces of generous height arranged around two central cores. Balconies supported by freestanding columns on the south front provide external space for each floor. The clear expression of horizontal and vertical elements creates an easily readable structure; the floor plates protrude from the envelope of the building while cast-iron columns strengthen the rhythm and articulation of the façades. 396 cast-iron columns stand at regular intervals across the façades adding character and depth to the post and beam construction. Sustainability has been integral to the design of One Pancras Square, and indeed the whole King’s Cross brownfield development, from the outset. The client and project team recognised that the internal floor plate depths and the prominent location of One Pancras Square, adjacent to two primary London public transport hubs, offered significant opportunities to push sustainability boundaries of a speculative office development. Passive design techniques were explored thoroughly by the project team. Their selection of increased floor-to ceiling-heights, exposed concrete floor slabs, user controlled openable facades and optimised glazing to solid ratios offer significant benefits. Sophisticated dynamic thermal modelling and natural ventilation modelling was carried out to inform these passive design options. While one Pancras Square is a private office block it performs a very real and important civic role within the whole of the Kings Cross development due to its prominent position and the formal and poetic power of the architecture.