Beautiful!
This is one of several projects that melds old masonry bases with new roof level additions in the style of nineteenth and early twentieth century cast iron architecture. They seem to be working out well—contextual in new, interesting, and lively ways.
It didn’t sink in with me that they were saving the old base. I like it.
They’ve also sliced in to the building, preserving a cross section with which you can still picture the trains tracks that ran in to the building. It’s a shame the Disney HQ didn’t save some of the fine buildings on its site.
I agree.
The disney building is too specialized. couldnt make that work
paywall
Commercial real estate executives briefed on Google’s future real estate plans say the company is probably done making big, sensational deals, though it could soon execute a purchase option on St. John’s Terminal, where it is already building out leased space. And one executive said that they’ve always wanted to purchase Pier 57 where they’re currently leased.
Otherwise, its next moves are more likely to be much smaller, and are meant more to firm up Google’s Chelsea campus than to add something spectacular — though it remains opportunistic and, if the right opportunity presents itself, it will grab it.
Like a lot of companies in this post-pandemic environment, Google is also looking at the outer boroughs, but mainly for small satellite offices designed to shorten commutes for workers who got used to working from home through the COVID crisis.
Google is also not particularly concerned about attracting its staff back to the office once COVID goes away, since its offices are designed to be worker-friendly with a lot of couches, good food, recreational areas that support mental well-being, and the general belief that workers would rather be there than at their own kitchen tables.
Google expects to occupy the Hudson Street properties this year, and the Washington Street building not until 2023, with construction to be completed by the middle of next year.
Pier 57, which is due to add 633,000 square feet of office space to the neighborhood, is not expected to be done until 2023.
By that time, Google may have reversed itself and acquired or tenanted even more property in the area. Or, it may take its hybrid model to the extreme and shed tens of thousands of square feet of space through subleasing and sales. Either way — a heftier presence or a slimmer one — it would appear the tech behemoth is a welcomed neighbor.
Google is also still renovating and taking over the entire Milk building across from Chelsea market.
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This is insane. Maybe not that surprising but still a stunning amount of money. Especially when they are obsessed with delaying their return to the offices they already own. Seems crazy, 2 billion is a lot even for them