Speirs Major

King’s Cross Central is one of the largest mixed used developments in the capital. Sited on the former goods yard north of King’s Cross Station the project incorporates a rich mix of commercial, cultural and residential buildings. Speirs Major were initially commissioned by property developers Argent to develop a ‘Lighting Masterplan’ which would carefully knit the site into its local context after dark.

Particular focus was given to the illumination of the surviving industrial heritage, including the Grade II listed Granary by Lewis Cubitt, which was being converted into a new University of the Arts. The lighting of the towpath to the Regent’s Canal, which traverses the site, also had to be carefully considered. Here the designers had to balance the safety requirements for pedestrians, cyclists and boat users with the need to limit the potential impact on local biodiversity.

Following the vision, the team were asked to work up a detailed lighting strategy for several areas including Granary Square, Wharf Road, the new University of the Arts, the redevelopment of the Western Transit Shed and a restaurant pavilion building, all by Stanton Williams Architects.

The design process required extensive consultation with various bodies including the local authority, English Heritage, local community groups and other bodies concerned with the control and management of the waterways.

Speirs Major were retained by Argent to monitor the contractor’s technical submissions and to ensure that both the overall lighting masterplan and the detail of the various schemes was properly implemented.