King’s Cross Construction Skills Centre
- Status
- Completed 2008
- Client
- Argent Group PLC
- Value
- £2.7m
- Procurement Method
- Design and Build
- Services
- Architect, Lead Consultant and Contract Administration
- Scale
- 1,450m²
Awards
- Building Quality Awards 2009 - Winner
- RIBA Awards 2009 - Winner
- RICS Awards 2009 - Runner up
One of the first buildings to be erected at King’s Cross Central is a flagship Construction Skills Centre which offers local people training, professional qualifications and employment opportunities.
- Status
- Completed 2008
- Client
- Argent Group PLC
- Value
- £2.7m
- Procurement Method
- Design and Build
- Services
- Architect, Lead Consultant and Contract Administration
- Scale
- 1,450m²
Awards
- Building Quality Awards 2009 - Winner
- RIBA Awards 2009 - Winner
- RICS Awards 2009 - Runner up
The 1450m² centre forms a gateway to the main construction site and is very visible from York Way. The design is intended to embody the principles of quality and sustainability that underlie developer Argent’s scheme by encouraging the mixing of both occupants and visitors. The building’s purpose is to enhance construction skills and encourage people to join the industry, and its design allows for integration and mobility.
The building detailing is used as a ‘lesson in construction’ for the students: ceiling soffits are exposed, as are the building services; where possible wall systems are exposed; the plant room is caged; workshop and stair floors are exposed concrete and coated with a dust sealer.
Interior view
“A skills centre that, despite being designed for a five-year lifespan, delivers on every level.”
North lights provide daylight to the double-height workshop areas, minimising the need for electric lighting to the space and creating a dramatic look to the external building. Angled timber brise-soleil protects the west-facing office and classroom windows from solar heat gain, whilst providing a clear view of the sky to the north. Externally, the roof features photovoltaic panels and a sedum roof to support biodiversity.
