Hailed as being longer than the Shard is tall, Google's plans for its new 11 storey London base feature a half Olympic sized swimming pool, a rooftop cafe (one of four in the complex) and a multi-use indoor sports pitch.The £1 billion Kings Cross campus will house up to 7,000 employees across its vast one million square feet of space. The HQ is the first purpose-built building by Google outside of the USA, and it is being described as a 'groundscraper' because of its sprawl lengthways rather than high.Sustainability is key to the build, with just four car parking spaces compared to the 686 bike spots, along with a rooftop covered with plants and a track for 'walking meetings'.Designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick and the Bjarke Ingels Group, this expansive complex will also house shops at and an events centre - complete with a large auditorium, perfect for Google's product launches and events.
Construction is slated to begin on the Kings Cross site in 2018.
Images: HayesDavidson
