education
Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects (FBM Architects), 2022
180-182 N Gower St,, Kings Cross,, NW1 2NB
A meanwhile use building to support the main works at Euston Station to provide a new main terminal for the HS2 train link. The new facilities comprise a new off-site manufactured building providing high quality space for HS2 personnel working at the site together with a new Construction Skills Learning Centre, public park, allotments and community facilities.
Euston, Euston Square, Warren Street
Euston, King's Cross
205, 214, 24, 29, 30, 73
Guided tour
10:30–13:00
Tours every half an hour for up to 10 people each. Last tour at 12:30pm.
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The development is a 10 year meanwhile use required to facilitate the construction of HS2 Euston Station and to re-provide the Construction Skills Centre which was previously granted consent on the application site.
The addition of the building provides a high-quality environment for users of both the Site Accommodation and Construction Skills Centre and will provide positive branding for the ‘front door’ of the HS2 Euston Station construction site.
The ground floor of the building is solely given over to the Construction Skills Centre with access through a new public park. Access to the site accommodation is provided on the north side and via the main HS2 site. Construction of the ground floor employs a traditional steel portal frame sitting on new innovative ground source Hyper Concrete Piles. A sustainable new hollow concrete pile employing ground source heat was developed for this project. The 5 storeys above ground level employ 216 12M long x3M wide x3M high off-site modular units providing offices, canteen, showers, changing and amenity for the 2,500 site operatives and staff delivering the HS2 main station works.
The development incorporates the Construction Skills Centre as an integrated yet separate function of the Site Accommodation, on the site of the former Maria Fidelis school. Combining the functions offers benefits to both the project and local community through linking training to employment requirements on site for local people, upskilling the construction workforce, potential shared space for briefings and inductions, educational visits and shared viewing areas.
The project objectives are as follows:
• Supporting the requirements of the local community and stakeholders, by including the Construction Skills Centre;
• Protecting green space being delivered across the wider Maria Fidelis site by providing a meanwhile use public park and allotment space
• Providing sustainable and re-usable solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of the project. At the end of the project all of the 216 modular units are to be recycled and reused by the manufacturer.
• Promoting positive branding of the Euston Station Project and HS2 by acting as the ‘front door’ to the project;
• Providing best lifecycle value for HS2; and
• Delivering construction skills training for the local borough and providing immediate access to construction opportunities on the HS2 Phase One and beyond.
The modular units have been adapted from the standard model to include a much greater level of thermal and acoustic insulation with the glazing to be as efficient as possible. Although this is a temporary building it was felt that it would need to meet and surpass current building regulation standards and provide a BREEAM rating of Very Good. The façade is formed of traditional metal rain screen cladding and long-life vinyl wrap. The design is aimed at echoing the traditional railway siding architecture of monumental warehouses and the goods yard.
Biodiversity has been paramount to the design with the incorporation of green and brown roofs together with green walls and facades.
Spaces Provided:
- Site accommodation
- Construction Skills Centre
- Public Park
GIA: 6,954 sq.m
Storeys: 6
Building Occupancy: 2,500 site personnel, 150 Construction Skills Centre students
Sustainability:
- BREEAM Rating: Very Good
- Innovative use of ground source Hyper Piles
Finalist: 2024 SECBE Awards: Integration & Collaborative Working Construction
Shortlisted: 2020 New London Awards: Meanwhile Use Category
www.fbmarchitects.com/project/meanwhile-use-of-a-former-secondary-school
www.instagram.com/p/Cx-2xyxIVkJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
nla.london/projects/former-maria-fidelis-school-site-meanwhile-use-1
www.instagram.com/p/CxDXetXIqE-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Drop in / Family activity
institution/profession, education, gallery, health, library, museum, online
Striking, provocative and one of London’s few Grade I listed post-war buildings – welcome to architect Denys Lasdun’s award-winning design. We invite you to drop in, take an expert tour, explore our archives and heritage library, get creative and more to discover the Royal College of Physicians London home. See https://history.rcp.ac.uk/event/open-house-festival-2025 for more.
Sir Denys Lasdun, 1964
Drop in
community/cultural, museum, art studio, gallery, walk/tour, event
A great little museum set in the Grade 2 listed Ossulston Estate - a prime example of pre-war Social housing - based on Karl Marz Hof in Vienna. Open Tuesday to Friday 9am-5pm, plus Saturday 13th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September 11am-4pm.
G Topham Forest, 1927
