Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studios confirmed as architects for Google’s new London Headquarters
By BIG
Sundar Pichai, Google CEO, confirmed today that Google plans to build a new purpose-built building on its King’s Cross campus—the first wholly owned and designed Google building outside the United States. The new building joins a growing Google campus at King’s Cross—the campus will eventually house 7,000 employees across three offices in more than 1 million square feet.
The ten story, 650,000 sq. ft. building will be an integral part of Google's rapidly developing community in one of the most exciting parts of London. The building will complement Google’s existing commitment to the 67-acre King's Cross Estate. Google will eventually occupy three buildings in the area, including the recently occupied 380,000 sq. ft. development at 6 Pancras Square, which has desk space for approximately 2,500 Googlers. Construction on a second building that Google will lease began earlier this year, with Google set to take occupancy in 2018.
“Here in the UK, it’s clear to me that computer science has a great future with the talent, educational institutions, and passion for innovation we see all around us. We are committed to the UK and excited to continue our investment in our new King’s Cross campus,” says Sundar Pichai, Google CEO.
BIG and Heatherwick Studios say they have tried to create a building with an identity that is unique to the Kings Cross community, combining the aesthetics of the Silicon Valley startup garage with London train sheds.