The £550m redevelopment of Network Rail’s King’s Cross Station is one of Europe’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. Not least among its achievements is the fact that works were carried to completion above live infrastructure, allowing the station to remain fully operational throughout. These works included creating the vast Western Concourse and its iconic domed roof, new pedestrian links between the main and suburban train sheds, and a bridge across the platforms.

Published widely, the project is acknowledged as setting a new benchmark for transport architecture and interchange design. Accolades include the 2013 London Transport Award for Rail Station of the Year and the 2012 Network Rail Partnership Awards for Best Large Project.

Lyndon Goode Architects’ Founding Director Simon Goode led a team of 40 architects as Project Architect and Project Director for John McAslan + Partners from 2006, and was Project Lead when LGA was appointed to the project in January 2012.

The western concourse and mezzanine sit directly above TfL’s King’s Cross underground station ticket hall. This meant there were a limited number of points where its roof structure could 'land' at ground floor level. Working with the Arup team, Simon helped develop the form of the diagrid roof and led a team of architects and engineers to refine detailing of the steel structure and to develop a cladding system with integrated acoustic performance.

For the station to remain operational throughout the works, a highly collaborative delivery approach, ‘no blame’ culture and proactive attitude to seeking design solutions were critical. Simon liaised closely with numerous stakeholder groups, including Network Rail's project management team to phase works. He cooperated with Argent on public realm and landscape design at the northern end of the station site. On the Western Range, collaboration with Arup allowed the invisible insertion of new structures that support the building and provide new mechanical and electrical services.

Simon also worked closely with Arup’s pedflow analysis team on the placement of gatelines, concourse information screens, the bridge from mezzanine to platforms, and shortening of a platform adjacent to the Western Range, at a point of egress. The design of the control room and station security measures were reviewed with the British Transport Police, and Simon met weekly with English Heritage to discuss work on the station’s Grade I-listed fabric.