Last year we took stroll through the offices of Google HQ London. This time we’re stateside, Palo Alto, California to be exact. Named after a redwood tree called El Palo Alto, Palo Alto is the stomping grounds of companies you might have heard of. Amazon, BMW, Nokia, Skype, Groupon and of course Facebook are just a few of the heavyweight crews that are deep on the streets of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Designed by Studio O+A, the former laboratory facility for high-tech manufacturer Agilent Technologies, the 150,000-square-foot structure at Palo Alto’s Stanford Research Park brings together more than 700 employees originally scattered throughout 10 locations in and around downtown Palo Alto.
The majority green headquarters is the first project built under Palo Alto’s 2008 Green Building Ordinance. By law pre existing structures had to be amalgamated into the areas design. Wood materials, various metals, and even the carpet had to come from recycled sources. To top things off all lighting had to be confirmed 100% energy efficient.
An outdoor basketball court and indoor ping-pong table offer opportunities for recreation. It is not unusual to see employees zipping along the concrete floors on two-wheeled skateboards.
A kitchen and café continue Facebook’s tradition of providing gourmet meals to staff at all hours, while drinks and snacks are available at micro-kitchens throughout the headquarters.
