Google has received permission to build the futuristic building of the new headquarters

The building of the new headquarters of Google in the background of California sky. Render: Google

After nearly a decade of planning Google is finally close to starting to build the first building, which was designed by their own. The concept of a new headquarters in mountain view, officially approved at the city Council meeting March 7, 2017.

The Google project is useless to compare with projects from the headquarters of Apple or Facebook that also look futuristic. All this is a unique examples of modern architecture, designed in different styles.

The Google campus will be stretched on the North Bayshore area in mountain view (district development plan up to 2030).



Google will have a plot with area of 7.3 hectares at East street, Charleston. Accordingly, the plot and the whole project was called Charleston East.

The project was first presented to the city Council in may 2015. Google stressed that a new kind of headquarters and campus are intended primarily to reflect the culture of innovation in the company and the community of mountain view. The reflection of these values led to the creation of an unusual project of the Central building with glass walls, surrounded by walking paths and covered with a roof, the biggest installation of solar panels. The architects tried to make the appearance of the building enjoyed by all citizens and not just employees of Google. They designed so-called "green route" around the building, which will house a café, art installations and other attractions, entertainment and rides.

The authors of the project believe that the inhabitants of the city will be coming to Google headquarters to walk around and spend time. Moreover, they believe that this place is worthy to become the center of attraction, attracting tourists. This building will become a landmark of the city, not only the pride of Google.

A two-level building headquarters footprint 55300 m2 will accommodate up to 2,700 employees of the company, as well as an unknown number of staff. While not reported, what units will move here from the current headquarters.

The local press writes that the discussion of a new Google project citizens turned into a "festival of expression of love." There was not a single critical comment, no one even objected to the felling of 200 trees, some of which block the planned bike path. Google has promised to plant over 300 new trees: oaks, plane trees and poplars of local breeds. The plan has aroused public support despite the fact that Google will pay a relatively small amount of funds in the city budget: this is a simultaneous payment of $600 thousand and annual payment of $2.25 million for the lease of the existing Shoreline Amphitheatre Parking to Google employees (in the future, the company will build its own Parking).

Project Charleston East is the first step to transform the North Bayshore area in its new global headquarters Google. The company two years ago showed the building plans, which are offered here to build. To the surprise of many, the city Council then rejected the plans of Google and gave the land to the company LinkedIn, but Google has made LinkedIn a great deal on exchange of land, and returned to the plan. Moreover, currently almost all the land North of highway 101 is assigned to Google.

Now the city authorities done to make a detailed plan for the development of the new district until 2030. It provides for residential development of the area. Officials are in constant contact with Google. The latter informed the authorities that is interested in moving here 10 000 people.

In the just-approved project East Charleston city Council has made minimal edits. For example, the authorities wanted to ensure that food and entertainment around the office building in the green zone will be available not only to employees but to all other citizens. The city Council has repeatedly stressed that it will be a public area and a public place. Authorities also ordered Google to warn all residents and business owners in the surrounding areas of the inconveniences associated with construction.

Well, the voting on Charleston East ended with a predictable 6-0 without a single vote against.

The future construction site








The design of a roof with solar panels




Renderings of the building and surrounding area
(some rendering compares the options of different roof coating)









































More details architectural design Google is set forth in the official application (pdf, 67 pages).

The first preparations for the construction and felling of trees began immediately after receiving permission. Google is going to go to work on the profiling of the soil and the excavation, very quickly. Depending on the weather, the delivery object can take place in late 2019.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/286754/