A hotbed of talent

A restored granary building at the heart of King’s Cross is now home to the world famous arts college – Central Saint Martins. Parts of the university are open to the public – why not come and have a look around this amazing building.

The end-of-year degree shows are renowned for boundary-pushing work. Every year in June, the emerging artists and designers showcase their work in disciplines such as fashion, ceramics, industrial design, drama and performance, jewellery and textiles.

Central Saint Martins is one of a number of colleges that recently came together under the banner of University of the Arts London. The college boasts glittering alumni including fashion designers Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, singer Jarvis Cocker, painter Lucian Freud and sculptor Antony Gormley. The campus at King’s Cross opened in 2011, welcoming 5,000 students and staff.

Home of creative industry

Designed in 1852 by Lewis Cubitt, the architect of King’s Cross station, the Granary once stored wheat for London’s bakers. The building has been gloriously restored by Stanton Williams Architects and overlooks the fountains of Granary Square.

The iconic building is the front door to the new university campus that extends 180 metres to the North, flanked on either side by the Transit Sheds. The building sets the architectural tone for the northern part of the King’s Cross development.

Studios, workshops and lecture theatres are built around a broad, covered “street” with overhead walkways. This fluid space enables students and staff from different departments to talk, work together and spark off one another. The building also houses performance and exhibition spaces, the 350-seat Platform Theatre and the Lethaby Gallery. The former stables now hold up to 275 bicycles. The Granary Complex won the Mayor’s Award for Planning Excellence in 2012. And Stanton Williams won gold at Building Design’s Architect of the Year Awards.