Google Kicks Off New New York Offices
Google held an event yesterday to kick off their new Manhattan offices, inviting a bunch of journalists (including yours truly) to check out the new digs. Sadly, there was no way I was gonna make it due to scheduling (which, given that this is New York, means at least some other reporters had the same conflict I had), but it looks like I’ll be taking a tour of the new place at some later time.
For now, you can enjoy other reporters as they describe their visit to the new offices.
CNet was there, at 111 Eighth Avenue in Chelsea, where more than 500 employees have already moved in. Apparently, the New York offices were instrumental in the AOL and MySpace ad deals, and I’m sure the new place just gives them an even better presence. The new offices cover 300,000 square feet, most of it on a single floor (the old place was four floors, but 1/3 the space), and estimates are that rent is $10 million a year.
Amenities include foosball, air hockey, ping pong and pool tables, a video game area (with an obsession with Guitar Hero), bean bag chairs and massage chairs, and a full basketball hoop. There’s free food in the multiple kitchens, a micro-cafe serving all the meals, and a bigger cafeteria (with a full-time chef) coming in November. Beneath them in the building: one of the largest fiber optic crossroads in the city.
The AP notes that Google actually owns three floors in the building, which stretches an entire block, and that the New York office built much of what would become Google Maps. Steve Bryant reports that they also developed Spreadsheets, half of Checkout, Blogsearch and mobile search, and are important because many engineers don’t want to leave New York. He also got a photo of their secret death ray plans. Crain’s says there are over 100 meeting spaces, and hints of expanding the free wifi service.
[…] You gotta love this blog, that looks at all the pictures from the New York Google office’s opening and determines that Google’s real evil plan is to bring back the goatee. By the look of the shots, Chelsea streets will soon to be populated by folk with goatee beards - probably trying to escape an office that looks like it has been filled with the worst objects ever found in the receptions of every edgy ad agency that has ever existed. […]
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