The head of real estate at Google has revealed that the firm’s new £1bn HQ at King’s Cross, N1 will “look to challenge” traditional office concepts.
Ahead of submitting a planning application in May or June for its 725,000 sq ft headquarters in north London, Joe Borrett said: “We are looking to challenge some of the standard concepts of the British Council for Offices.”
Speaking at CBRE’s Growth Picture for London Offices presentation, he added that the search engine giant was looking to challenge “some of the traditional parameters in building and design”.
The new office will focus on staircases rather than lifts, for example, said Borrett.
Google completed its purchase of a 2.4-acre plot at Argent’s King’s Cross Partnership’s 67-acre site in January. The US company wants to move in by 2016.
Borrett said one of the main reasons for choosing King’s Cross was that it provided sufficient space to consolidate its three London sites into one building.
He also believed the emerging area would help to attract and retain Google staff, which average 28 years of age.
“We like the area because it is something new, and we want to be part of the regeneration. That means culture and community, and making a change. King’s Cross allows that,” said Borrett.
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
