Meta HQ

Workplace

A landmark of King’s Cross — generous, adaptable and designed for long-term performance.

Project Details

King's Cross, London

Location
Argent LLP

Client
NIA: 39,000sqm GIA: 54,700sqm

Area
£164M

Value
2021

Completion

Carbon Data

Upfront Carbon (A1-A5)

<775 kgCO₂e/m²

11–21 Canal Reach is the largest office development at King’s Cross and the primary UK workplace for Meta. The 400,000-square-foot building follows the curve of its site, its form influenced by the industrial heritage of the surrounding rail lands.

The façade comprises two layers — bronzed anodised aluminium cladding set behind perforated louvres — creating depth, movement and solar control. The building is crowned by a landscaped rooftop park offering panoramic city views.

From the outset, performance and material integrity guided the design. Digital analysis optimised façade shading, while a detailed embodied carbon assessment informed material choices. The project connects to the King’s Cross District Energy Network, powered entirely by renewable sources.

Delivered during the pandemic, the building demonstrates a collaborative process at scale — balancing the demands of flexibility, efficiency and wellbeing to create a robust, future-ready workplace.