Google Uses Mass Timber to Construct Latest Office Building

12/18/2024

Google recently unveiled a new office in Sunnyvale, California, constructed with mass timber. It’s the tech giant’s first project of its kind. 

Mass timber is engineered wood made up of layered and laminated small pieces of wood that is considered more environmentally friendly than steel. According to an article in Sustainability Magazine, the building, 1265 Borregas, is projected to have 96 percent fewer embodied carbon emissions than a similar steel and concrete structure.  

The lumber used to build the office is procured from responsibly managed forest certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Other sustainable building features such as an all-electric power and rooftop solar panels help contribute to the building’s LEED Platinum status. 

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The property is situated on three acres of pollinator-friendly native plants and includes public artwork that was inspired by Atari, the former property occupants. 

Google has established a goal of achieving zero emissions and operating on net-zero carbon free energy by 2030. 

“This building shows what’s possible when you combine sustainability and construction efficiency into an office building, while also prioritizing employee wellbeing,” Scott Foster, VP of Real Estate & Workplace Services, says in a company blog. 

Dave Lubach is executive editor of the facility market.