Construction News. Granary Complex scoops Mayor of London s top prize

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1 Construction News Issue 13 Spring 2012 Helpline: The CSM reception area and central atrium of the Granary Granary Complex scoops Mayor of London s top prize The Granary Complex scooped the Mayor of London s top award for Planning Excellence at the London Planning Awards in January. The Mayor awarded the prize jointly to the London Borough of Camden, English Heritage, architects Stanton Williams and King s Cross, in recognition of the careful renovation of the historic Grade II listed building for Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design (CSM). The Mayor was impressed by how the team retained and restored the historic aspects of the site and integrated them into the new additions to the building and how the faculty is helping to revitalise the area. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: The Granary Building is a stunning development that embraces the past while looking to the future. The transition from a depository of Victorian grain, to a university where the seeds of artistic ideas sprout, has been handled with great sensitivity and flair. It has brought an enlightened focus to the wholesale regeneration of the surrounding area and is a project that matches my own vision for London. Robert Evans, from the King s Cross Central Limited Partnership, said: We are delighted that the Granary won this award. After three and a half years of refurbishment and redevelopment works, it is now an amazing campus for Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design; a creative warehouse for some 5,000 students and staff, with dynamic new teaching areas, studios and workshops, performance, rehearsal and exhibition spaces. The building, its students and staff are now a permanent and extraordinary part of King s Cross and its on-going transformation. Nigel Carrington, Rector University of the Arts London, said: We are thrilled that University of the Arts London s new King s Cross campus was recognised at the London Planning Awards. Being part of the regeneration of King s Cross right from the beginning perfectly reflects the ethos of our University. It will be exciting to see this new campus develop its personality symbiotically with the surrounding community. It is unlike any of our other buildings and we expect it to develop into a creative hub for staff and students across the University. The following contractors are working in partnership to deliver King s Cross:

2 Completed public space The completed public space and new King s Cross concourse The paved public space outside King s Cross Station concourse has been finished in time for the opening of the new passenger waiting area. The new concourse was opened to the public by Network Rail on 19 March and is expected to be used by more than 45m passengers a year. King s Cross has been working with Network Rail to pave and light the area outside which links the station with King s Boulevard and St Pancras International. It includes a new taxi drop-off and pick-up point. Inside the new King s Cross Station concourse Excavating works for the Zone B shared basement Pancras Square The clean up of the land in the southern part of the King s Cross development site in between the two stations continues. The contaminated soils are a legacy of gas production in the area and our work will remove all the old redundant holders and any remaining oil and tar. As a result of the work, progress is being made to build Pancras Square, a development of offices, shops and public spaces. Piling for the perimeter walls of Buildings B2, B4, B5 and B6 is complete. Work on the basement for the buildings is due to begin by the end of April.

3 New homes at King s Cross View looking north of the new homes Construction of Buildings R4 and R5 continues with both buildings on York Way now at full height. They are now being clad in their final external surfaces. Meanwhile Building T6 next door which will include 657 bedrooms of student accommodation is several storeys out the ground. The view from Building R5 on York Way Buildings R4, R5 and T6 on York Way ArtHouse update Piling work has now begun on ArtHouse, the third residential building to get underway at King s Cross. The bulk dig for the building on York Way, next to the Regent s Canal, has been completed and, from now until June, construction of the basement slab and all the ground works will take place. The building should start to come up out of the ground in the summer. The building is due to be finished by the end of Piling works on the ArtHouse site

4 Gas governor update Cycling update View of the new gas governor from Regent s Canal The new gas governor, located on Goods Way, is now fully operational and the old gas governor in Zone B, on Pancras Road, has been disconnected. Both were being run simultaneously in January for testing to take place. The old gas governor is now being dismantled with many of the parts being recycled. Its removal makes way for the basement of the buildings in Zone B, to be constructed. Meanwhile with improvements taking place on the tow-path of the Regent s Canal, the appearance of the brick building housing the new gas governor has been revealed. The bricks have all been recycled from the site from the Victorian gas holders which used to stand here. Work has now started on the green wall which will be on the elevation of the building facing Goods Way. It is due to be finished in April. Cyclists in the West Handyside Canopy King s Cross is delivering a safer cycling programme. The first two events took place in February and were well attended by a wide range of cyclists. On 27 February drivers for contractor Kier attended an intensive training course for professional HGV drivers aimed at helping them to understand a cyclist s perspective. King s Cross is also working collaboratively with CSM to provide training for their students and staff. Apprentices graduate Exploring the Coal Drops Learning about the history of the Granary building Schools visit A partnership project between Argent, the Asset Manager for the Kings Cross development, CSM and Camden Council saw almost 120 Camden junior school pupils visit the King s Cross site at the end of January. The pupils from local schools Brecknock, Torriano and St Aloysius visited Drawing in the Granary complex various buildings of interest on the site, including the new CSM building, the Coal Drops and the German Gymnasium. The pupils are engaged in a project that uses the King s Cross site as source material in order to learn about local history, geography, art and architecture. Apprentice of the Year Kieran Marshall receives the award from Ray Wilson of Carillion On 9 February, 34 apprentices graduated from the King s Cross Construction Skills Centre with level 2 qualifications in carpentry and joinery, bricklaying and general construction. The teenagers spent around 16 months of their two year apprenticeship on the King s Cross development site working alongside the contractors. Most of the apprentices, who are from Camden and Islington, have secured jobs in the industry or plan to continue their studies. Some of the apprentices at the ceremony

5 Pumps for fountains and lights being installed Granary Square The individual pumps of all 1,080 water jets which make up the new fountain in Granary Square are being fitted. As well as laying each pump, a separate caplight capable of different colours is installed with a stainless steel grill placed on top of each jet. The job will soon be complete when work will begin to test the fountain. The steps from Granary Square down to the Regent s Canal are also almost complete with handrails now fitted. Two masts which will cast lighting across the square will also be installed in the Spring before the square opens in June. Gatt steps in place Two-way traffic on Goods Way Goods Way Goods Way is now open to twoway traffic again. Work is still underway to finish the pavements on either side but this should be complete by May. Individual pumps installed for each of the 1080 fountain jets

6 Aerial view looking west with potential build-out Miller Hare Junction Proposals 1. Canal Street / York Way Works commence in late Public opening mid Initially this will be a priority junction. Traffic lights to be installed when Zone W is developed. 2. Plot R4 / Plot R5 / York Way Not a signalled junction. Operational by late Plot R2 / York Way Road junction removed. 4. York Way / Copenhagen Street Traffic signals installed. New temporary walk way installed. 5. Wharf Road / York Way Existing traffic signals switched off in July 2011 and removed. 6. Goods Way / York Way Amend traffic lights when junction is re-configured as part of the development of the petrol station site (includes a right hand turn south down York Way from Goods Way). Approximate implementation in King s Boulevard / Goods Way / Regent s Canal Bridge Temporary pedestrian lights in September Zebra crossing now operational. Upgrade to full signal junction when King s Boulevard opens to buses and taxis (earliest 2014). 8. Camley Street / Goods Way / Pancras Road The existing traffic signals have been re-configured. A1 A2 9 E1 B2 B4 A3 A4 F 6 B1 B6 A5 5 B3 B5 7 J 8 4 Q1 Q2 R2 N1 N2 N1 N1 P1 P2 S2 R1 R3 R5(S) R4 3 2 T1 T2 S1 S4 R5 W2 S5 T3 S3 T4 T5 1 W1 T6 9. Pancras Road / King s Boulevard Traffic signals installed. Full signal junction when King s Boulevard opens to buses and taxis (earliest 2014). W3 Apprentices images Angela Jewell, all other images John Sturrock Contacting Us There is a dedicated website and freephone helpline staffed during normal working hours, Monday to Friday. If somebody cannot answer immediately, there is an answerphone facility. Freephone Helpline: Training and Jobs As part of our commitment to deliver local benefits, the Construction Skills Centre on York Way, run by contractor Carillion, offers advice and information on finding work in the construction industry local to King s Cross. It also provides apprenticeships for people aged who are out of work or carrying out unskilled work. For more information call: Who is backing the scheme? 67 acres at King s Cross are being developed by the King s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP), which brings together: Argent King s Cross Limited Partnership London & Continental Railways DHL Supply Chain For information on the future of King s Cross, please visit our marketing suite, which is open to the public Monday to Thursday 10am - 6pm, Friday 10am - 5pm: King s Cross Visitor Centre The Granary Building 1 Granary Square London N1C 4AA Scope of Works The development at King s Cross will bring enormous and continuing benefits to the area. Safety and cleanliness are two of the local residents main objectives, but this development will offer a lot more. It will provide some 2,000 homes and serviced apartments, employment for thousands, schools, shops, food and drink outlets, cultural and community uses, health centres and many other facilities. Over 40% of this development will be public realm. Much of the area s heritage will be maintained by refurbishing 20 historic buildings and structures, including the listed Gasholder triplet.