Location: London, United Kingdom
Developer: Network Rail
Designers: Arup, John McAslan + Partners
Size: 11 acres (4.5 ha)
The redevelopment of London’s historic King’s Cross Station, designated by the government as a Grade I–listed building for its exceptional interest, was completed in March 2012. Launched in 2005, the remodeling project has improved passenger facilities, made operational activities more efficient, and increased retail opportunities.
The complex £550 million ($786 million) redevelopment project has required a series of interventions involving three different areas of architectural specialty: reuse, restoration, and new construction. The project adapted and reused the train shed and range buildings, restored the station’s previously obscured Grade I–listed facade, and added the new, visually striking Western Concourse that serves as the centerpiece of the remodeling project.
The improvement of the station’s public realm and its surrounding infrastructure has acted as a catalyst and gateway for the £2 billion ($2.9 billion) regeneration of the adjacent site, King’s Cross Central. The project’s innovative design integrates the requirements of a 21st-century international transport hub within a Grade I–listed structure, creating a modern transport superhub fit for a capital city.
