Google runs into LinkedIn snag in effort to build new headquarters

Earlier this year Google revealed some conceptual drawings and a video for a new headquarters it hoped to build in Mountain View. The concepts came out when Google filed documents with the Mountain View City Council. The tech behemoth has run into a snag though as a council vote awarded the bulk of the development space to LinkedIn instead of Google. The portion of the 2.2 million square foot space that is left for Google to use would leave space for just one of the four buildings the company had planned to eventually construct.

A couple factors appeared to be in play in the council’s decision. First was the fact that LinkedIn’s proposal was more mainstream and traditional. Google had admitted previously that some of the ideas included in their concept were not quite technologically feasible. This contrasted with LinkedIn’s plans which use current construction techniques. Although Google hoped to mix in a lot of green concepts and space that would be open to the public, LinkedIn relied on a promise to help diversify the city’s businesses so they were not so reliant on Google.

The future for Google’s plans are unclear as the company considers a future headquarters campus. Google recently took ownership of Moffett field and could build there, although the space was originally planned for their robotics projects. That space is also too small for the concept that Google was looking at.

source: The Verge

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