Google recently revealed plans to construct an ambitious new headquarters in Mountain View, California, designed by starchitects Bjarke Ingels and Thomas Heatherwick. However, the city's council has reportedly put the future of the project in serious doubt by awarding the majority of available land in the area to LinkedIn instead.
According to Silicon Valley Business Journal, Mountain View's city council awarded the internet giant "only" 4.7 hectares (11 acres) of a total of roughly 20.4 hectares (50 acres) of available commercial land in the North Bayshore area. In contrast, LinkedIn was awarded some 13 hectares (32 acres) for its own headquarters. This means that Google will only have enough room for roughly one of its planned four new buildings.
"To have one building — it’s a significant blow," David Radcliffe, Vice President of Real Estate and Workplace Services for Google, is quoted as saying. "I’m not sure how I make any of this economically viable with one building."
LinkedIn, meanwhile, is understandably upbeat. "We are pleased with the city council’s decision to allow LinkedIn to build a permanent headquarters in Mountain View that will also create a sustainable mixed-use community destination," the Silicon Valley Business Journal quotes.
The New York Times writes that LinkedIn's proposal was relatively modest in comparison to Google's project, and comprises offices and retail spaces, including a movie theater and gym.
It remains unclear as to whether Google has any further room for maneuver, but it looks unlikely that the project will be going ahead as originally envisioned.
Source: Silicon Valley Business Journal