London & South East

Carry on campus

Google Office

Developed by Google UK Ltd and its partners Seedcamp, Tech Hub, Springboard and Central Working, the £2.2 million Google Campus provides an important working space for many high-tech businesses.

Located on Bonhill Street in the heart of Tech City, Google’s latest facility is a seven-storey building that incorporates a mixture of office and event space all under one roof. Google Campus comprises 200 desk spaces, 16 meeting rooms, a number of informal work and break-out spaces and a café.

The building also has two presentation areas that are capable of accommodating up to 205 people. The ground and first floor of the building were designed to incorporate the social aspects of the facility, whilst the upper five floors of the building are open-plan working spaces.

In addition to providing office accommodation for new businesses, Google Campus is the perfect location for networking events and leading business experts regularly hold talks at the site to share their experience of the industry. Furthermore, a number of Google staff also take part in a continuous mentoring program at the facility, which allows them to pass their expertise on to likeminded businesses.

Google Office

Work began on the Google Campus in November 2011, with work reaching completion in February 2012. Como Group was the main contractor for the project, whilst Jump Studios was the architect and Medland Metropolis was the mechanical and electrical consultant. Key Joinery was responsible for the bespoke joinery work on the project and Viaduct provided the site with furniture.

In order to create a unique working environment at Google Campus, the existing building was stripped back to its core to create a low-tech blank canvas for the site. During the strip-out phase of the project all of the internal workings of the building were exposed – including ceiling slabs, columns and services. Following this, inexpressive materials such as linoleum and plywood were incorporated to create a raw workspace similar in design to a workshop.

Google Office

Despite the low-key internal aesthetics of the building, a number of features are present to stimulate and inspire creative minds. These features include a large ‘inspiration’ wall made from reclaimed vegetable crates along with a reception desk made from multi-coloured Lego bricks. Interestingly, the Lego themed desk is one of the only branded elements included within the whole building.

Additional features include recycling stations, video conferencing booths, a micro kitchen, lockers, a designated soft seated area and upholstered walls. A loading bay located next to the reception area also accommodates up to 40 bicycle stations.

External features of the building include a courtyard located on the ground floor of the site. The courtyard includes a timber-decked patio, a fern garden, moss covered walls and technologically enhanced flowerbeds that contact site staff – via Twitter – when they require watering.

Residents of Google Campus also have access to a designated external area located on the roof of the building. The external area is decked out with timber flooring and during the warmer months of the year the roof top area will provide the ideal location for cinema screenings and social gatherings.

Google Office

Jump Studios

Established in 2001 by Shaun Fernandes and Simon Jordan, Jump Studios is an architecture and design practice based in London. Jump Studios design high-concept interiors for many leading brands within the commercial sector working on retail, exhibition, restaurant, bar and office projects.

With an experienced team of architects as well as graphic, digital and interaction designers, Jump Studios has completed several award-winning projects for clients including Levi’s, Adidas, Honda, Red Bull and Wieden+Kennedy.

Jump Studios is currently working on projects for Selfridges, Marks & Spencer and Nike.

www.jump-studios.com

Key Joinery Ltd

With roots going back to 1923, Key Joinery Ltd has come a long way since it was first established. Key Joinery is now recognised as one of the UK’s leading specialist joinery manufacturers and offers an extensive range of products and services that cover all aspects of the fit-out and refurbishment markets.

For more information please visit: www.key-joinery.co.uk

About the author

Roma Publications