Raising Eyebrows At Google’s New Bay View Campus Buildings

Designed by Heatherwick Studios and Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG), Google’s Bay View Campus is leading the way in adaptable and healthy workspaces by keeping Googlers happy, productive, and creative in groups large or small.

“Smile” trusses and clerestory windows, accented by architectural eyebrows made from Zahner’s Angel Hair® Stainless Steel, create an inspiring canopy that provides an abundance of natural light and outdoors views from every desk.

This all-electric, net water positive campus—with the largest geothermal installation in North America—features some of the latest advancements in human-centered design and sustainability best practices. It’s Google’s first ever self-directed, from-the-ground-up design and construction of a major campus.

David Radcliffe, vice president of real estate and workplace services at Google, said in a recent Google news release that the design began with a deep dive into how people like to work at Google. How people experience the building once inside took priority over the exterior form.

As a result, work spaces allow Googlers to collaborate and assemble as needed yet buffer the effects of movement and sound to enable deep-focus work. Numerous levels provide plenty of gathering options and easy access between neighborhoods that also foster a sense of community and connection.

Zahner provided Design Assist services to preserve and refine design intent, ensure constructibility, and finalize budgets. Zahner worked with Heatherwick and BIG designers on Angel Hair Stainless Steel eyebrow accents for the dragonscale solar skin canopy roof and clerestory windows that add inspiring flow while also providing abundant natural light and outdoor views.

Google released this short video on the project showing the planning, design, and sustainability principles that went into this landmark project: