Google Revamping London Mega-Headquarters Plan

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U.S. search giant Google is revamping plans for its £1 billion headquarters in London, hoping to develop something more "ambitious." 

The 920,000-square foot project, originally intended for a 2016 completion, will now be pushed back to 2017.

"We have a great plan for the new building at Kings Cross, but we want to challenge ourselves to do something even better for Google, Kings Cross and for the local community," Joe Borrett, head of real estate and construction at Google, told reporters.

The project's length -- 330 meters - is longer than the 310-meter height of the Shard, London's tallest building, leading some industry observers to call it a "landscraper." Google reportedly paid £650 million for the 2.4 acre site.

The current design, unveiled in June, features a roof-top running track, climbing walls and a swimming pool. The 11-story project is designed to house 4,500 employees.

The design won planning approval in September, but the new desgn will likely require new approvals.

"There was nothing wrong with the old designs -- it would have been a great building -- but we just decided to be even more ambitious," a source told the Telegraph. "We are still completely committed to the project, which is good for Google and good for the UK too."
 
Architect AHMM, which designed the original plan, will remain on the project to develop the new design, Google says.

In February, AHMM managing director Peter Morris told Building magazine working with Google was "intellectually challenging."

"Some clients you find will just take your professional advice and move on as you develop the scheme," Mr. Morris said. "They are challenging us at every turn, but likewise we are turning it back and challenging them."