TowerEight, the leading independent project and cost management consultancy, has completed its work as project manager on the latest hub by Premier Inn hotel at London King’s Cross with Axiom Architects.
Whitbread PLC is the UK’s largest hotel operator, behind some of the UK’s most successful and well known hospitality brands. hub by Premier Inn Hotels feature innovatively designed hi tech bedrooms reflecting the needs of modern, dynamic city living.
hub by Premier Inn Kings Cross is a major new build hotel and retail development on York Way in the heart of King’s Cross. The site is adjacent to Regents Canal and Granary Square overlooking the Kings Cross St Pancras transport hub.
Toby Wait, Director at TowerEight, said: “hub is a dynamic hotel brand that is targeting savvy travellers who like the integration of technology into the space but are looking for value.
“The hub strategy has been a great success with six hubs open in London and two in Edinburgh, all focused on customer experience and giving consumers choice in the style of accommodation.
The new scheme includes a 389 bedroom hotel with bar, restaurant and meeting room facilities with 292m2 of retail floor space. Strong articulated volumes in yellow London stock and smooth blue brickwork with expressed industrial steelwork reflect the area’s industrial heritage. A zinc clad penthouse storey enjoys views across North London.
The tiered building form rises from three to seven storeys, sympathetic to the changing scale of the surrounding streetscape. Recessed shopfronts, and sliding-folding glazing provide active frontages on all sides.
“This is a wonderful project in a part of the capital that has changed radically in a short period of time, and our approach to hub reflects that,” explained Luke Bray at Axiom Architects.
“hub represents a new generation of compact, smart tech, modern city centre hotels. It’s about taking the comfort, convenience and consistency of a Premier Inn hotel and putting it into a smaller package. Through integration of leading technology and extensive research, we have reduced the room size without compromising comfort and promoting a distinct experience and sense of style.”
Internal courtyards faced in glazed white brick drop light into the heart of the building on down to the lower basement levels. Following a 21 month demolition and construction programme the hotel is now open and continues to trade beyond expectation with a restaurant and barbers shop shortly to occupy the retail space.
TowerEight and Axiom are working on a further 9 hub sites that are either currently on site or in planning.
Project Name: hub by Premier Inn, Kings Cross
Sector: Hotel & Retail
Project size: 9681m2 Gross Internal Area
Status: Existing – Completed 20th June 2017
Location: King’s Cross
Owner/Developer: Legal & General / Whitbread PLC
Project Manager: TowerEight
Architect: Axiom Architects
Main Contractor: McAleer & Rushe
