The finished floors in 1,2 and 3
The finished floors in 1,2 and 3
The finished floors in 1,2 and 3
The finished floors in 1,2 and 3
The finished floors in 1,2 and 3
Introduction
Google’s UK head office at 6 Pancras Square in Kings Cross required three high performance television studios for YouTube content creation. To support multi camera and robotic camera operation, the studios needed precision engineered floors that would deliver super flat performance and long term reliability. Recommended by broadcasting advisors Wave Science Technology, Elgood Industrial Flooring was appointed by main contractor ISG to install Universal Television Studio Floors in Studios 1, 2 and 3, covering a total of 220 m² and completed in two carefully managed 12 day phases.
Background
Google selected 6 Pancras Square as a key London base, with dedicated YouTube studios forming an important part of the building. The studios needed to be capable of hosting a wide range of productions, from live streams and talk shows to branded content and special events.
Elgood Industrial Flooring has more than 40 years’ experience in studio floors and a proven Universal Television Studio Floor System with over 135 installations. Designed, manufactured and installed entirely in house, the system has an average working life of more than ten years and is trusted by leading broadcasters for demanding multi camera facilities. For Google / YouTube, it was chosen to provide consistent camera performance and long term value in a flagship UK location.
The Challenge
The project at Google’s Kings Cross head office had several clear technical and programme challenges:
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Convert concrete slabs laid 30 mm below finished floor level (to -6 / +6 tolerance) into super flat operating surfaces for three studios
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Deliver optimum camera pedestal performance for both multi camera and robotic camera systems, with cameras able to track smoothly anywhere on the floors
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Provide an anti static finish as standard to prevent nuisance static electricity affecting sensitive broadcast electronics
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Ensure the studio floors were compatible with semi permanent studio paints such as Mylands, allowing regular repainting and cleaning between productions
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Manage the installation programme so that Studio 3 was completed as a standalone 12 day phase to meet its handover date, followed by a second 12 day phase completing Studios 1 and 2 together
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Project manage and install under the main contractor ISG’s programme, using an experienced in house team with SMSTS and SSSTS qualified management
The Solution
Elgood Industrial Flooring supplied and installed the Universal Television Studio Floor System in all three YouTube studios, following a structured process from preparation through to final finishing.
Key elements of the solution included:
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Sub floor and preparation
The sub floor in each studio was a concrete slab laid 30 mm below finished floor level. Elgood prepared the slabs using light diamond grinding to clean the surface and provide a suitable mechanical key for the studio floor build up, controlling dust and ensuring consistent adhesion. -
Universal Television Studio Floor System
The Elgood Universal Television Studio Floor System was installed across the combined 220 m² of Studios 1, 2 and 3. The system is designed specifically for television studios, providing:-
Super flat tolerances for smooth multi camera and robotic camera tracking
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A tough, hard wearing surface capable of handling studio loadings, set changes and heavy equipment
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Long term performance with an average working life of more than ten years when correctly maintained
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Anti static performance and paint compatibility
An anti static finish was provided as standard to prevent nuisance static electricity that could interfere with cameras and broadcast electronics. The completed studio floors were designed to accept semi permanent studio paints such as Mylands, which can be applied for different productions and scrubbed clean as part of routine maintenance. -
Programme and project management
Studio 3 was installed as a standalone 12 day phase to meet ISG’s handover date for that part of the building. Studios 1 and 2 were then installed together in a second 12 day phase. Elgood managed the works with its own SMSTS and SSSTS qualified management and full time in house installation team, providing a single point of responsibility for design, materials and workmanship.
Outcome
The completed Universal Television Studio Floors at Google’s YouTube studios in Kings Cross, London, deliver a robust, long term foundation for broadcast and content production:
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220 m² of super flat studio floors across three studios, supporting smooth multi camera and robotic camera operation
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Anti static operating surfaces that help protect sensitive broadcast equipment from nuisance static discharge
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Tough, durable floors that withstand frequent set changes, equipment movements and intensive production schedules
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Studio floor systems that accept semi permanent paints and routine scrubbing, allowing Google and YouTube to refresh and rebrand the spaces as required
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A British manufactured and installed solution from a specialist contractor with more than 135 studio floors completed and decades of experience
By converting the concrete slabs at 6 Pancras Square into precision laid Universal Television Studio Floors, Elgood Industrial Flooring has helped Google and YouTube create flexible, technically capable studios at the heart of their Kings Cross head office.
