Bam Jamie Oliver Kings Cross

Argent has awarded Bam Construction the contract to refurbish one of the historic buildings at its King鈥檚 Cross development into a Jamie Oliver Group pub, restaurant and creative centre.

The contractor will convert the 150-year-old Fish and Coal buildings, which follow the curve of the Regent鈥檚 Canal, into modern offices, studios and dining spaces.

Bam has just begun work on-site, using local apprentices from the on-site construction training programme, with completion scheduled for spring 2016. The project will draw on a combined heat and power plant within the wider development as part of its work to target a 鈥楤REEAM Excellent鈥 rating.

The scheme represents Bam鈥檚 latest involvement at Kings Cross following the company鈥檚 recent success in securing a contract on the refurbishment of the German Gymnasium at King鈥檚 Cross.

The Fish and Coal buildings were built in 1851 as offices to house clerks employed to monitor the flow of freight through goods yards along the canal from the railways.  The first block was built as part of Lewis Cubitt鈥檚 design for the Goods Yard.

The building was gutted following a fire in the 1980s, and floors and roofs have been rebuilt.

Work will be led by Ewen Hunter, who won a construction manager of the year award for transforming King鈥檚 Cross鈥 historic Western Transit Shed into modern office space.

Bam recently secured a contract on the refurbishment of the German Gymnasium at King鈥檚 Cross and has previously completed the University of the Arts London鈥檚 home on the site

The contractor is also working on three buildings around Pancras Square collectively known as Zone B of the regeneration scheme.

Bam Construction director Mike Donegan said: 鈥楤am is very pleased to continue its work on this landmark central London development. Bam is behind something like a dozen structures here.