Coal Drops Yard, London, UK
Creating a dynamic retail space from a derelict railway facility
The coal depot at King’s Cross, built in 1851-52, had lain derelict for a number of years, partially gutted by fire and severely overgrown by vegetation. Arup acted as structural and façade engineer for a project, led by Heatherwick Studio, to transform the site into an award-winning high-end retail and leisure development.
Our conservation-accredited team began with forensic surveys and assessments, establishing the structural capacity of existing iron, brick and timber elements, before engaging with design for the many architectural interventions. We pushed the limits of modern codes and assessment methods to justify retaining as much historic fabric as possible.
A new upper-level space was created by twisting the shape of the original roofs and connecting them above the public space with a 32m clear span. This was supported independently by threading a new steel and concrete frame through the original structure. Particular care was taken over the detailing of interfaces to blend new and old as seamlessly as possible.
Arup’s façade specialists developed an innovative design for the cladding of these ‘kissing’ elements, with the walls formed solely from glass panels in a distinctive folded pattern.
