Google King's Cross campus

On 1 June 2017, Google submitted an application for planning permission to Camden council for its proposed King’s Cross Campus. This building will be the first, wholly-owned and designed Google building outside the United States.

Construction of the purpose-built 11-storey 'groundscraper' building, providing 1 million sq. ft, of accommodation will commence in 2018. The building will be longer than The Shard is tall.

Designed by Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the building will feature a natural theme, with all materials sourced through Google’s healthy materials programme. The new building, combined with the current building at 6 Pancras Square and an additional third building, will create a Google campus with the potential to house 7,000 employees.

Joe Borrett, Director of Real Estate & Construction, said:

“We are excited to be able to bring our London Googlers together in one campus, with a new purpose-built building that we’ve developed from the ground up. Our offices and facilities play a key part in shaping the Google culture, which is one of the reasons we are known for being amongst the best places to work in the industry.”

Thomas Heatherwick, Founder of Heatherwick Studio, who jointly designed the new building, said:

“As my home and the home of my studio for more than 15 years, I have a close relationship with King’s Cross. The area is a fascinating collision of diverse building types and spaces and I can't help but love this mix of massive railway stations, roads, canals and other infrastructure all layered up into the most connected point in London.

“Influenced by these surroundings, we have treated this new building for Google like a piece of infrastructure too, made from a family of interchangeable elements which ensure that the building and its workspace will stay flexible for years to come”.

Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner at Bjarke Ingels Group, joint architect of Google’s new building, noted:

“Our design for the new Google Campus at King’s Cross is rooted in the local character of the area, taking advantage of the contextually defined building envelope while creating continuously cascading work environments that will connect Googlers across multiple floors. By opening up the ground floor and activating the roofscape, the light and airy workspaces are sandwiched between the terraced gardens on the roof - and market halls, auditoria and shops on the ground.”

Roly Keating, Chair of the Knowledge Quarter said:

“Google have supported the Knowledge Quarter vision from the beginning and it will be a pleasure to welcome them into their new headquarters building at the heart of the neighbourhood. The arrival of thousands of Googlers mixing with scientists, archivists, academics and students will accelerate the incredible breadth of innovation taking place in this unique part of London. We are delighted to see plans taking shape which will strengthen the Knowledge Quarter as a world-class centre for research and creativity.”

Content and images courtesy of Google.

The appliction recieved planning permission in August 2017, and it was reported that main contractor Lendlease would start on site in 2018.

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