Located on Euston Road opposite King’s Cross and St Pancras stations, Belgrove House is a new-build specialised laboratory and office building for the life-sciences sector to be occupied by MSD as a UK Discovery Research Centre and HQ .
The scheme is designed to be innovative, highly sustainable and an example of carbon emissions reduction in construction, operation, and future refurbishment. Operational energy is reduced through a 'biophilic' double-skin facade allowing natural ventilation and providing a zone for planting.
The building's configuration emerges from a clear arrangement of uses on the site. Life-sciences research laboratories are located on the largest floorplates at floors 1-3, providing animation to the facades and a public window into the research activity within. Offices will be located on floors 5-9 and the fourth floor will serve as a dedicated ‘collaboration hub’.
A generous ground floor provides occupant and public access via the main entrance on Euston Road into the reception and exhibition space. A new step-free entrance to the Underground will link the building into King’s Cross and St Pancras stations via the pedestrian tunnel beneath Euston Road. Looking out on to Argyle Square an education and event space is proposed, along with a public café. Double height light wells give access to a lower-ground floor auditorium.
It is a green building with numerous planted terraces and an extensive landscape plan to bring trees and plants to the surrounding streets. The project offers an excellent opportunity to dramatically enhance the surrounding area, bringing active facades where there are currently blank walls, by removing street clutter and bringing greenery to all four sides of the building.