Once a busy Victorian industrial area around an extensive railway goods yard and the Regent's Canal, the area behind King's Cross Station had, by the late 20th Century, become a relatively abandoned area of disused buildings, railway sidings, warehouses and contaminated land.  A Master Plan by Allies & Morrison and Porphyrios Associates drawn up circa 2006 sought planning permission for approximately 50 new buildings, 20 new streets, 10 new major public spaces, the restoration and refurbishment of 20 historic buildings and structures, and up to 2,000 homes.  One of the public spaces was Pancras Square around which a number of buildings were arranged including Two Pancras Square designed by Allies & Morrison

This speculative office building provides 130,000 sq.ft net Grade A office space above street level for retail and restaurant units.  The architects say of it that, "...The facades are composed from a white precast stone outer masonry layer, behind which sits a fine metal and glass inner layer. As the building rises, the masonry window surrounds become more delicate, whilst the inner glass layer recedes into the building. At the final floor it is completely absent, revealing a glimpse of the sky. Sustainability has been central to the development of the King’s Cross masterplan and Two Pancras Square has achieved BREEAM Outstanding."

Materials were selected for their robustness over a 60-year period.  The building has highly efficient mechanical systems that have led to significant carbon savings. A fully accessible green roof terraces provide 405 sq.m of rich landscaped habitat and a natural rainwater filtration system.