CASE STUDY | GOOGLE KINGS CROSS OFFICE Googles landmark Platform G office development will be arriving in Kings Cross, London in 2024. Andy Pearson talks to building services consultant Atelier Ten to find out how a BIM model was used to coordinate the highly innovative buildings services design along its 330-metre length ARRIVING ON PLATFORM G G PROJECT TEAM Client: Google Concept architects: Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingles Design delivery architect: BDP Building services design, energy analysis and environmental design: Atelier Ten Main contractor: Lendlease Structural engineer: AKT II Cost management: Gardiner & Theobald 44 March 2023 www.cibsejournal.com oogles new London HQ the multinational technology companys first purpose-built office in Europe takes a new approach to the traditional office. Designed by Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group, and currently being delivered by BDP, the team has taken a subtle and considered approach, with a low-rise scheme that sits proudly within the urban context of Londons Kings Cross. Currently being built, the huge 60,000m2 wedge-shaped landscraper known as Platform G stretches 330m along the length of the pedestrianised boulevard connecting Kings Cross station with Granary Square, to the north. Among its standout features are extensive landscaped roof terraces, a running track, and a swimming pool. Building information modelling (BIM) was a client requirement and essential to coordinate the services within the floor voids. It also enabled early involvement of specialist contractors, which gave the project team more scope for prefabrication and meant access for plant-maintenance needs could be baked into the model at an early stage. The workers are housed across eight office floors at its 60m-wide northern end, tapering down to five floors at its narrower, southern elevation, where it faces the station. To further minimise the buildings presence on the streetscape, the design lifts the mass of office floors two-storeys above the street, to enable the west faade