Despite Google’s offer of new bike paths, pedestrian bridges over a major highway, two new parks, wetlands restoration, and other perks, the city of Mountain View, Calif., denied the company the development rights to construct a grand new headquarters.
The Mountain View City Council instead gave another Internet giant, LinkedIn, about 1.4 million sf of the roughly 2.2 million sf of available commercial space in the area. Google was promised just 515,000 sf, or enough for one component of its four-part campus expansion.
City councilors spoke approvingly about the snazzy design proposal of the new Googleplex, but also said they were concerned about stunting growth in the city for LinkedIn.
The council wants to promote business diversity and not have the city’s business base be dominated by one company.
Google proposed adding 5,000 units of housing on the grounds of the new headquarters to help alleviate the housing shortage in Silicon Valley.
That proposal did not sway Mountain View officials. “Housing by companies went out with the mining towns,” one councilor reportedly remarked.
Related Stories
Office Buildings | Feb 18, 2021
Bungie breaks ground on new, expanded HQ
NBBJ is designing the project.
Great Solutions | Feb 11, 2021
Simplifying the return to the office
A new web-based tool from Sasaki takes the guesswork out of heading back to the workplace.
Office Buildings | Feb 8, 2021
Walgreens Technology Center of Excellence completes in Chicago’s Old Post Office
Stantec designed the project.
Office Buildings | Feb 8, 2021
Six lessons learned from our first Fitwel Viral Response Module certification
The Fitwel Viral Response Module is one of several frameworks that real estate owners and operators can use to obtain third-party certification for their efforts ensuring their properties are ready for a safer and healthier return to work.
Building Owners | Feb 4, 2021
The Weekly show, Feb 4, 2021: The rise of healthy buildings and human performance
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors speak with AEC industry leaders from Brookfield Properties, NBBJ, and UL about healthy buildings certification and improving human performance through research-based design.
Office Buildings | Feb 3, 2021
NBCU News Group unveils new Washington bureau and studios
The project spans six floors and 80,000 sf.
Office Buildings | Feb 3, 2021
A towering helix will mark the spot at Amazon’s corporate headquarters in Virginia
The tech giant has invested $2.5 billion in a project that will encompass five office buildings for 25,000 employees.
Office Buildings | Feb 1, 2021
609 W. Randolph begins construction in Chicago’s West Loop Gate
Antunovich Associates designed the project.
Office Buildings | Jan 27, 2021
New creative office space completes in Silicon Beach
SPF:architects designed the project.
Office Buildings | Jan 19, 2021
Anchorage to receive new glacier-inspired office building
Perkins&Will is designing the building.
