Jatoba Decking

BAM are constructing and renovating three large office buildings, known as B2, B4 and E1, with a shared basement called B0, that make up Zone B, on the King's Cross Central development site. Built on the original site of the London Gasworks, the design and construction of the Zone B buildings are sensitive to their industrial heritage, whilst making them as sustainable as possible, aiming for a BREEAM Outstanding.

Block E1, completed June 2014, is a part new build, part refurbishment, encompassing the existing Grade 2 listed Stanley Buildings, built in 1864. They were originally built by the Improved Industrial Dwellings Company to provide a higher standard of accommodation for King’s Cross workers. There were originally four flats per floor, later converted to two. Flat roofs were provided for clothes drying and children’s play areas. The flats were unusual as they provided completely self-contained accommodation. 

The new £10 million E1 block will feature two basement levels, a ground floor and five office floors, as well as a roof terrace. Jatoba was the material chosen for the external decked areas on floor eight and the roof terrace; supplied in a smooth profile the board was used vertically as feature wall cladding and to create seating benches. In total Beaumont supplied over 6,000 linear metres of the hardwood decking along with the batten and support pedestals used to construct the frame.