Google reveals plans for 1.1M square foot, 4 floor ‘Bay View’ campus near SF Bay

My only fear when I read about these campuses (Apple's 'spaceship' in particular) is the old adage about the 'curse of the new HQ'. See:<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/poorly-timed-headquarters-2009-11?op=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.businessinsider.com/poorly-timed-headquarters-200...</a><p>I know it's a bit superstitious, but the basic idea is that when a company starts building temples to itself and its employees, that means their focus has shifted and their eye is getting off the ball.<p>I hope it's not the case with any of these companies, and I know there are plenty of counter-examples, but still, I think about this.

For a minute I thought they might be revitalizing one of the poorer neighborhoods of SF; but no, 'Bay View' does not reference Bayview.

I wonder if it will have flood doors to contain the rising sea waters :-)<p>This is a pretty cool concept drawing. At one time there was a suggestion for Google to run a hovercraft or hydrofoil type ferry from the GooglePlex to San Francisco. This will make that easier!<p>That said I was expecting something to happen, I mean Apple has a spaceship, these guys needed to pupate out of the dead husk of SGI and spread their wings!

I can't understand why the big players like Facebook and Google are not building somewhere like South San Francisco. Most of the employees either live in San Francisco or want to, and the difference in real estate pricing could easily be offset by eliminating half the bus fleet.

Original Source: <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2013/02/exclusive-preview-googleplex" rel="nofollow">http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2013/02/exclusive-pre...</a>

I wish Palantir would do a campus somewhere (which I suspect would be an awesome LOTR-themed campus).<p>That would drop Palo Alto real estate from $5-7 to maybe $3-5.

"As this project progresses, we’ll continue to work closely with NASA, the community and the City of Mountain View."<p>I must be confused, but what does any of this have to do with NASA?

Does anybody know if the plan is to build atop the Shoreline Preserve in Mountain View? That seems to be the only large parcel of land that is both closer to the bay than Google already is and not currently occupied by other structures. Seems a shame to wipe out a hefty chunk of a nature preserve simply to satisfy a corporation's desire for self-idolatry.

The most beautiful office I've ever seen is that of ILM in the Presidio... about where Starfleet Academy is supposed to get built. ;) They have a "cafeteria" overlooking the Golden Gate, Bay, forest, etc.

Anybody else notice the three tents they have one of the grass covered roofs?<p>Easter egg or nice place to catch a nap?

Looking at the image I see 5 floors. Is counting done differently, the image not right or the headline wrong?

Can anyone explain why they would have to "work closely with NASA"? Is it a typo of the architect firm, NBBJ?

Maybe they'll finally afford private offices then... So that engineers won't work full day with headphones.