Facebook Expands Its Space With Building Designed by Frank Gehry

Facebook Expands Its Space With Building Designed by Frank Gehry ⇒ New images have been revealed of Facebook‘s new headquarters in Menlo Park, California. The space, named “MPK 21”, was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry and was constructed in less than 18 months. The building was built with a purpose: coming closer to nature. The offices are topped with a 3.6-acre roof garden that features over 200 trees; the ‘town square’ is a sheltered green space with 40-foot-tall redwood trees, while ‘the bowl’ has been conceived as an amphitheatre-style courtyard.

⇒ Subscribe to our Newsletter and be up-to-date with CovetED Magazine ⇐

Facebook claims the building was designed to promote teamwork and to allow staff work to their full potential, as an open workspace encourages collaboration between teams, while quieter areas are provided for more focused work. The employees can enjoy five dining options, 15 art installations and a 2,000-person event and meeting space with A/V technology, all connected by a single pathway. The workspace also promotes outdoor activities, with pedestrian walkways, access to various outdoor areas, visible stairways, and flexible workstations.

Frank Gehry worked closely with Facebook to reduce the building’s impact on the environment in terms of water, energy, and waste. The building has a reclaimed water system that will save approximately 17 million gallons of water each year, while the roof includes 1.4 MW of photovoltaic solar panels. Additionally, bird-friendly glazing allows for clear views and natural daylighting, which reduces the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours.

“As we add offices in other cities in the bay area, we remain invested in Menlo Park, which will be our headquarters for the foreseeable future. It was important to us that MPK 21, which sits on a former unoccupied industrial site, be consistent with the natural environment and our neighbouring communities,” says John Tenanes, Facebook’s VP global facilities and real estate.

In 2019, the social media company plans to complete a two-acre park with a public square and event space, capable of hosting Facebook festivals, a mobile farmers’ market, and other local programs. As part of the project, a community bike and pedestrian bridge will be built over the bayfront expressway — a landmark feature that will connect the neighbourhood and campus to recreational trails and parks along the San Francisco Bay.

COVET INTERNATIONAL AWARDS SET TO ELEVATE DESIGN AND CRAFTSMANSHIP