Construction is currently underway for Google’s new London HQ designed by BIG and Heatherwick. The building will feature what will be the world's largest timber façade (23,300 m² total area) developed by HESS TIMBER together with Josef Gartner GmbH, a leading global manufacturer of custom-made façades.
Centrally located in Kings Cross, the new 11 storey building will be 312 metres long when complete – around as long as the Eiffel Tower is tall. The building has an emphasis on natural materials and natural light, contributing to workplace welfare. On the roof Google employees will have access to a spacious park with trees, green spaces, running track and a swimming pool.
All materials for the new building will be sourced through Google's Healthy Materials Programme, an initiative that’s pioneering new methods for measuring and disclosing the content of building materials.
Google HQ has also been designed to have a minimal impact on the natural world with its construction adhering to the highest environmental standards, which include a minimum attainment of BREEAM Excellent certification. Additionally, the new HQ is on course to achieve LEED GOLD certification, and to reduce the embodied carbon of the building by 20% from RIBA Stage 2 Design Baseline.
Construction is underway and is set for completion in 2021.
Read more about the project here.