Google reveals fresh King's Cross HQ designs

Google has submitted new planning documents for its proposed £1 billion headquarters at London’s King’s Cross.

The new 80,819sq m building has been redesigned by US-Danish architect BIG and Heatherwick Studio after the tech giant parted ways with previous architect AHMM. The executive architect is BDP.

The 11-storey building will sit on a plinth punctuated by office entrances with up to 15 retail units at ground level along King’s Boulevard – totalling 4,376sq m of space, according to supporting documents lodged with a reserved-matters planning application validated by the London Borough of Camden this week.

It will also feature a three lane, 25m long pool, multi-use games area and gym on its upper floors and an 8,590 sq m landscaped roof garden, while an events centre occupies the lower ground and first and second floors.

The events centre will be used by Google for product launches, talks, presentations and industry events. Google said it also anticipated the space would be used by technology-focused organisations and community groups or charities.

The roof garden will include a 200m “trim trail” – a running or walking track with exercise stations at regular intervals.

Google said its new “stepped” terrace-style HQ would house 4,500 employees, who would be able to access the building via a diagonal staircase running through the building. The staircase will also function as a space for social gatherings with the steps creating seating areas to watch events taking place games area. The building will also be dotted with several cafes and outdoor seating areas.

The web giant has also submittied plans for a small triangular shaped area at the southern end of its proposed new HQ and the existing Battle Bridge Place.