News, Technology

Google might get the futuristic workplace it hoped for

Written by Muneeb Ahmad ·  1 min read >
Google Mountain View

It seems that Google might get a catch on its futuristic plans to build a majestic workplace after it struck a property swap deal with LinkedIn, just recently. The deal will also end the long-running dispute on the land shares between LinkedIn and Google. Google has paid $215 million for the swap, while LinkedIn has paid $331 million.

According to the deal, Google will be getting a 370,000 square feet LinkedIn building and one of LinkedIn’s development property in North Bayshore which will give Google enough space to house its futuristic concept.

Last year, Google gave a plan for building its new campus in Mountain View’s North Bayshore district which got thwarted after the area’s city council decided to give a majority of the 2.2 million square foot development to LinkedIn instead of Google. After the decision, Google was left with just enough land share to house just one of the actual four buildings which were planned to be made as part of Google’s original plan.

Google’s futuristic concept was articulated by Danish architect Biarke Ingels from the Bjarke Ingels Group and Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio. The expansion comprised of four buildings. Google described it as a utopian workspace set to “blur the distinction between our buildings and nature“.

Highlighting the reforms, the post described, “Instead of constructing immovable concrete buildings, we’ll create lightweight block-like structures which can be moved around easily as we invest in new product areas”.

LinkedIn will be acquiring two Google properties in Mountain View over an area of 460,000 square feet and two building leases in Sunnyvale, California. These properties will be closer to the LinkedIn’s existing Sunnyvale properties and will be a potential benefit to the company.

Tech businesses have continued to grow immensely during the recent times. It was not long before, when it was highlighted that the most attractive company for business students to work has also come out to be a tech company. Tech companies have been tempting employees from all over the globe because of their grandeur, exclusive incentives and of course because of the lush job-sites they boast. Facebook moved to its new 430,000 square feet, headquarters, Menlo Park. Apple also began construction of its new spaceship-shaped campus at Infinite Loop in California which is also set to be completed this year.

Written by Muneeb Ahmad
I love to talk about global tech-happenings, startups, industry, education and economy. Get in touch: muneeb@techjuice.pk. Profile