Opened in 2014, 5 Pancras Square is Camden Council’s headquarters and civic hub, designed by Bennetts Associates. It brings together a public library, contact centre, leisure centre, and the council’s offices in a single landmark building.

The site sits at the junction of King’s Cross and St Pancras, one of London’s most connected and prosperous districts, yet directly borders Somers Town, where 40% of children live in poverty. This ward is projected to grow by over 30% in the next decade—double the borough average—placing additional pressure on local services. Alongside this growth, issues of social exclusion and loneliness, particularly across generations, remain pressing in the aftermath of the pandemic.

In this context, 5 Pancras Square plays an important civic role. PlaceCulture was commissioned with Bennetts Associates to review how the building’s library, contact centre, and offices could operate more effectively as an integrated whole. Our work focused on rebalancing priorities of safety, welcome, and inclusion, ensuring the building remains responsive to the needs of both the business district and the surrounding communities it serves.