Google’s New Bjarke Ingels– and Thomas Heatherwick–Designed HQ Shows the Future of Office Spaces

ArchitectureGoogle’s New Bjarke Ingels– and Thomas Heatherwick–Designed HQ Shows the Future of Office SpacesFrom floor to ceiling, Google’s Bay View campus breaks new ground for sustainability while defying the typical office aestheticMay 19, 2022building near the waterWith cutting-edge eco-friendly measures, the all-new Google HQ brings a new standard in how offices should be designed.

There’s a lot of talk in Silicon Valley and across the country about the future of workplaces in the wake of COVID-19. While coaxing employees who’ve yet to return to the office is one thing, a massive new project from Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Heatherwick Studios, and Google offers a glimpse at what the carbon-free future of work could look like. This week, Google unveiled the three buildings that comprise their new Bay View campus, spanning 1.1 million square feet of space at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. Designed with ideas of innovation, nature, and community in mind, the end result is a uniquely open space capable of furthering Google’s ambition to operate entirely on carbon-free energy for 24 hours a day, seven days a week by 2030.

The first key to Bay View’s energy efficiency is a canopied roof that’s more reminiscent of a modern airport terminal than your traditional office space. Consisting of a proprietary “dragonscale” design, the roof consists of 50,000 solar panels that can cumulatively generate almost seven megawatts. In addition to generating energy of its own, the roof also minimizes thermal heat gain and reduces overall energy loads.

aerial view of a office building

Bay View’s three new buildings are part of Google’s ambition to be the first major company to operate on carbon-free energy, 24 hours a day, seven days a week by 2030. 

Far from a high-rise, Bay View’s workspace consists of only two floors that add up to 20 acres of open space. The upper level is a vast array of individual desks and “team spaces” (think enclosed conference rooms), with each square foot enjoying outside views and natural daylight while minimizing dreaded monitor glare thanks to well-placed clerestory windows between the roof’s canopy bays. This work area is connected via indoor “courtyards” to the lower level, which features kitchenettes, cafés, and open areas with enough space for your typical all-hands meeting.

Though the canopy superstructure is the project’s most visible element of green design, energy-minimizing sustainability is embedded into the foundation of Bay View. That’s thanks to what is now North America’s largest geothermal pile system, which will heat and cool the workspace. That facilitates a projected 50% reduction in carbon emissions, while also saving an estimated 5 million gallons of water that would otherwise be used for cooling purposes each year. And speaking of saving water, Bay View makes use of on-site recycled water for all of its non-potable needs, part of an effort to replenish a full 120% of the water the facility consumes by 2030.

exterior of building

Consisting of a proprietary “dragonscale” design, the roof consists of 50,000 solar panels that can cumulatively generate almost seven megawatts. 

To those who worked closely on the project, Bay View’s de-emphasis of height goes hand-in-hand with a design that taps into the energy the earth provides. “Google Bay View offers a workplace experience that is an antithesis to an urban high-rise,” Leon Rost, one of BIG’s partners-in-charge for Bay View, said in a press release. “While on-site carbon and water neutrality is challenging for skyscrapers, this bay-scraper typology enabled us to harvest the power of the sun, earth, and water.”

inside of a office building

Bay View’s canopied roof is more reminiscent of a modern airport terminal than a traditional office space. 

Given that Bay View is designed to achieve significant energy savings at scale, sustainability awards are expected to follow suit. BIG’s press release notes that Bay View should meet the standards required for LEED-NC v4 Platinum certification. Furthermore, they expect the project to set a record for the largest facility to achieve the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge Water Petal certification.

As BIG also notes, the project’s breakthroughs also “unlock advancements for the entire industry” by making its innovations more scalable for the future. At a time when businesses have more need than ever to rethink both the form and function of offices, projects like this may give employers something to look up to—even if there are only two floors of workspace.

Exploreadarchitecture

Introducing Jobbguru: Your Gateway to Career Success

The ultimate job platform is designed to connect job seekers with their dream career opportunities. Whether you're a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone seeking a career change, Jobbguru provides you with the tools and resources to navigate the job market with ease. 

Take the next step in your career with Jobbguru:

Don't let the perfect job opportunity pass you by. Join Jobbguru today and unlock a world of career possibilities. Start your journey towards professional success and discover your dream job with Jobbguru.

Originally posted on: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/googles-new-bjarke-ingels-thomas-heatherwick-designed-hq-future-office-spaces