Google is to prelet another major office block at King’s Cross Central, NW1, after drafting in Thomas Heatherwick to help redesign its proposed European HQ at the site.
The internet giant has agreed to lease the entire 180,000 sq ft S2 building to the north-east of the 67-acre site, which is being designed by French architect Michel Mossessian.
It is one of a pair of office buildings being designed by Mossessian at King’s Cross, together with the neighbouring S1 block, which is a similar size.
The latest deal means Google has let 545,000 sq ft at King’s Cross Central in addition to its proposed European HQ on the site, previous plans for which envisaged 750,000 sq ft of office space on a 2.4-acre site.
It has agreed a 15-year lease for S2 at around £55 per sq ft.
The lower rent – rents elsewhere on the site are in excess of £75 per sq ft – reflects the building’s location further north away from the train station and the fact that the company has committed to a lease before plans have been submitted.
The length of the lease mirrors that agreed at 6 Pancras Square, the 365,000 sq ft building Google let in two parts from AXA Real Estate and BNP Paribas Real Estate.
The original AHMM design for Google’s European HQ had been expected to complete in 2016 but was scrapped by Google in late 2013.
The firm has now brought in Thomas Heatherwick – whose studio is also working on Google’s new California HQ – to work alongside AHMM on the design. The move is likely to mean the London HQ will not now be delivered for several years.
6 Pancras Square and S2 should accommodate Google’s expansion in the interim.
AHMM founder Simon Allford said: “We are busy with Google at King’s Cross and, indeed, are looking at projects with Google in Berlin and elsewhere.”
The King’s Cross Central Partnership – a joint venture between Argent, Hermes, DHL Supply Chain, London and Continental Railways and AustralianSuper – has now agreed deals for 2.5m sq ft of the 3.5m sq ft of offices planned at the scheme, with tenants including Havas, Camden council, PRS, Vista Print, AstraZeneca and Bombardier.
Much of the remaining space at the scheme is likely to be targeted at smaller occupiers, with several buildings planned which will provide smaller floorplates and more flexible workspaces.
CBRE advises Google; DTZ and Savills are letting agents at King’s Cross Central.
