King’s Cross Station – a more human design
David Watts, Managing Director, CCD Design
Introduction
• History of King’s Cross Station
• The redevelopment of King’s Cross
• Role of human factors in the scheme
• The user in the design
History of King’s Cross Station
• Opened in 1852
• Southern terminus for East Coast Main Line
• Design by Lewis Cubitt
• Roof modelled on riding school at Tsar’s Gardens in Moscow
The need to redevelop the station
• Congested & overcrowded
• Increasing passenger numbers
• Temporary concourse not fit
• Urban platforms not right
• Lack of train capacity
• Lack of retail - £££
• Integration with revised tube station
• New St Pancras next door
• 2012 Olympics won
Redevelopment Project Timeline
• 2005 - project started to redevelop the station
• 2009 – restoration of eastern buildings complete
• 2010 – new Platform 0 opened
• 2011 – restoration of the main roof
• 2012 – new concourse opened – 19 March
• 2013 – new public square opens on site of old concourse
Station overview
Station Layout
New Concourse
New Concourse
New Concourse
Upper level for retail & seating
Public Square
Project Description
Key Points
• Redevelopment in a heritage environment
• Constraints in timescales & delivery – ready for the Olympics
• It’s an operational station
• Iconic architecture
• Improvement in the ambience – High spaces
– Segregation of retail & seating
– Lighter environment
– Retain connection with the history of the building
• Vast improvement…
• …but only a step forward
CCD’s role
• Assuring that the human user had been considered in the design
• Framework for assurance in Ergonomics Integration Plan
• Identified all areas affecting passengers & operations
• Identified ergonomics themes for each area
• Assurance method – Delivery Team Champion
– Evidence provided by delivery team
– Compliance Matrix
– Walkarounds
– Certification
Areas identified with human interface
• Platforms
• Concourses
• Retail
• Ticket gates
• Ticket vending machines
• Waiting areas
• Information points
• Ticket office
• Footbridge, lifts, escalators
• Call points
• Public address
• Train information displays
• Train departing information
• Control room
• Dockmaster office
• Station CCTV
• Public address
• BMS
• Radio/phone comms systems
• Staff accommodation
• Train crew accommodation
• Lifts
Ergonomics themes within each area
• User management
• Passenger flow
• Disability Discrimination
• Wayfinding
• Environment – lighting, acoustics, thermal
• Operational philosophy
• Job design, workload, training
• Health & safety
• Emergency processes
• Maintenance
Passenger Flow & Accumulation Areas
Wayfinding & Passenger Flow
• Scenario based evaluation – Family eating in Burger King and realise they are late for their train on
Platform 1
– Passenger arrives at entrance and wants to meet colleague in the 1st Class Lounge
• Lessons learnt – Walkthroughs key to understanding inter-relationship between signs
Wayfinding & Platforms 9-11
• Visual connection on concourse
Crowd management
• Operational need vs desired behaviour
• Commuter behaviour – “the race for a seat”
• KX: stay on the concourse – limited info past barrier
• Keeping passengers off the footbridge
Footbridge – Signage & Passenger Behaviour
• On bridge signs
• Platform signs
• No large signs
Platform Access
• Relationship with layout of East Coast Trains – 1st Class Lounge and 1st Class carriages
1st Class Lounge
1st Class Carriages
Concourse – separation of main retail
Ambiguous public seating on mezzanine
Ticket Gates
• Important for revenue protection
• Anything positive for passenger experience?
• Operation key to making it work – Staffing
– Training
– Philosophy of operation
Ticket Office
• Example of working with the architecture of the old building
• Presents an acoustically challenging environment
Control Room
• Heritage features
• Working environment
• Design of HCI
Summary
• Significant improvement in ambiance for passengers
• Improvements in operational environment
• World class station now
• Constrained with delivery and heritage environment
• Good design plus assurance on details has delivered
• Advance for passenger experience…
• …but no significant step change or innovation
CCD Design & Ergonomics Ltd
95 Southwark Street | London | SE1 0HX
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7593 2900
www.ccd.org.uk
Top Related