King's Cross St Pancras underground station, London
- Client: London Underground
- Principal designer: Arup
- Principal architect: Allies and Morrison
- Principal contractor: Costain Taylor Woodrow Joint Venture
- Contract value: £225 million
About the project
This station redevelopment project has been one of the most complex in the UK during the past five years. A new gateway to London was needed for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link extension to St Pancras, and it will be a vital hub for London's 2012 games. The first phase delivers a new western ticket hall to serve underground and international rail services; refurbishment and expansion of the existing underground ticket hall; and refurbishment of the Metropolitan and Circle Line concourse and platforms.
Much of the work was undertaken around the Grade 1-listed façade of St Pancras Chambers and in areas close to the railway, and there were over 20 stakeholder groups. Construction was complex, involving diverting two main sewers and replacing 90 metres of 19th century brick in tunnels above operational rail tracks with a new flat slab construction. Enlargement of the existing underground ticket hall required no less than 15 interim station arrangements. Works varied from tunnelling, demolition and steel frame erection to systems integration, tiling and painting. All this required hour-by-hour planning and working around the clock.
An unshakeable focus on safety, schedule and delivery meant that passenger services were never lost.
The judges said: 'Creates a much needed transport hub for the 2012 Olympics on an underground site of huge physical complexity'
