Google changes architect for new London headquarters

According to recent reports, Google has made a change in the architect working on designs for a new European headquarters to be located in London. Sources indicate Google has retained British designer Thomas Heatherwick to start working on the project, replacing AHMM. Heatherwick is one of two firms that has been working with Google on a new headquarters facility in Mountain View.

Allegedly, the change comes after Larry Page reviewed proposals from AHMM for the London facility that included an indoor climbing wall and a track on the roof only to find them “boring.” The fallout from that incident supposedly caused several AHMM staff members to leave the company. AHMM has not commented on this latest development and it is not clear whether they may still be working as part of a team with Heatherwick.

Heatherwick has been involved in several high profile projects recently like the Olympic cauldron for the 2012 London games and he recently redesigned Routemaster buses in London. The Google headquarters project is expected to be a £1 billion ($1.56 billion USD) project. However, no date for completion of the project has been set.

source: Business Insider

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