Wrong formula – Rethink over superlab for King's Cross
Published: 15 April 2010
by DAN CARRIER
ARCHITECTS behind a new medical research laboratory planned for King’s Cross have been sent back to the drawing board.
UKMRCI, the government-run conglomerate planning a superlab for 1,500 scientists and technicians, have announced that with just weeks to go before they submit the project for Town Hall planning approval, they have brought in new architects PLP to look at the exterior of the Brill Place building.
International architects’ practice HOK won the contract to design the £600million building in 2008, and according to UKMRCI will still be involved in the interior layout.
A spokesman for the alliance of medical research groups said: “We just want to make sure we get the building we need and be sure it is absolutely right with the best design possible. One way of doing that is to bring in fresh thinking.”
The new team are now racing against the clock to put together designs for the buildings facades.
Ringed by listed buildings – including the British Library, St Pancras and King’s Cross railway stations, and Walker House block of homes among others – the project would see the building rise from four storeys to seven in a series of steps.
The UKMRCI spokesman added: “We have decided to bring in PLP. HOK are real experts in designing labs but PLP have been asked to help to do the exterior.”
PLP president Lee Polisano said: “We were asked to propose some ideas and we’re going to take the lead role on the outside of the building.”
Holborn and St Pancras MP Frank Dobson said: “The first design was appalling and the second one only just a bit better. The simple fact is the council should turn it down unless there is an agreement to hand over the National Temperance Hospital for social housing.”
Last summer a review by government quango the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment criticised the proposed exterior, while just last week Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a £250m package for the scheme.