Explore Google’s St. John’s Terminal: Historical Elegance Meets Modern Innovation in Manhattan Office Transformation
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by Unboxify,
4 min reading time
## Introduction
Google's newest office, St. John's Terminal, in Manhattan is a striking embodiment of blending historical architecture with innovative, modern workspaces. This blog will take you through the fascinating features of this almost-100-year-old building, repurposed to reflect Google's latest approach to workplace flexibility and changeability.
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## A Historic Foundation 🕰️
St. John's Terminal was originally built in 1934 as a freight train terminal. Nestled in Manhattan’s West Side, this terminal played a crucial role in bringing food and provisions from upstate into the city. Google purchased the terminal for a whopping $2.1 billion, transforming the old railbeds into a magnificent space brimming with modern-day work culture.
- Originally built in **1934.**
- Acquired by Google for **$2.1 billion**.
- Located in **Manhattan’s West Side**.
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## Cutting Through History 🪚
The initial phase of transformation included cutting through the building to connect the neighborhood with the waterfront. The building's structure, which originally spanned over streets creating dark tunnels, now allows sunlight to penetrate, connecting Houston Street to the sky and making the local area more vibrant.
Key Transformations:
Connecting neighborhood to the waterfront
Bringing natural light through structural cuts
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## Architectural Marvel: The Ground-Scraper 🏢
In a city dominated by skyscrapers, Google chose to develop a "ground-scraper" by adding nine floors on top of the existing terminal. This unique design makes the building “way longer than it is tall,” prioritizing sprawling, open spaces over height.
- The terminus is longer than it is tall.
- Offers expansive, large floor plates for flexibility.
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## Workspace of the Future 🔮
The massive floor plates, tall ceilings, and large windows create an inviting and flexible workspace ideal for Google's future vision. These features allow for dynamic office layouts, providing natural light and facilitating a comfortable working environment.
Architectural Highlights:
Large floor plates for flexibility
Tall ceilings and big windows for natural light
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## Tailored for Business Professionals 👔
Unlike Google's Silicon Valley office, which boasts casual spaces like ping-pong tables, St. John’s Terminal is designed primarily for business professionals. This office lacks the quintessential Silicon Valley flair, focusing instead on meeting the needs of Google’s global business organization.
- Floorplans tailored for **business professionals**.
- Lack of traditional, playful amenities.
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## Neighborhoods Within the Office 🏘️
To create a sense of community, Google segmented the workspace into "neighborhoods," each tailored to different team needs. Each neighborhood has dedicated meeting rooms and flexible furniture, ensuring teams can create their ideal working environment.
Features of Neighborhoods:
Customizable workspaces
Dedicated meeting rooms
Flexible furniture arrangements
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## Versatile and Modular Design 🛠️
The modular design of St. John's Terminal allows for complete flexibility. With customizable meeting rooms that can be adjusted in size, the office spaces can evolve according to the dynamic business needs. This modularity ensures that the workspace can keep pace with business changes.
- Custom demountable room system developed with Gensler and DIRTT.
- Rooms can be resized and rearranged based on team needs.
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## Shared Workspaces and Amenities ☕🏢
Google allocated equal floor space to shared workspaces, featuring lounges, cafes, terraces, micro kitchens, and more. These communal areas might lack traditional desks, but they are designed to foster creativity and collaboration.
Shared Spaces Include:
Expansive work lounges
Cafes and terraces
Micro kitchens
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## Connection to Nature 🌿
A key design principle of St. John's Terminal is biophilic design, integrating nature within the workspace. The office boasts about 1.5 acres of native plants on terraces, and garage doors open up to blend indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly.
- 1.5 acres of native plants
- Indoor-outdoor connectivity with garage doors
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## Distinctly New York 🌇
Google's St. John's Terminal stands out for its integration into the neighborhood, challenging the introverted nature often associated with tech companies. This office, with clear views of the city and open spaces, is truly a part of New York’s dynamic landscape.
Building Qualities:
Integrated into the neighborhood
Clear city views
Special real estate footprint in NYC
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## Future Potential 🚀
What makes St. John's Terminal particularly exciting is its long-term potential. The modular design allows the office to evolve. Google's approach here may be replicated in future offices, underscoring the flexibility and adaptability of this innovative workspace.
- **Modular design for future adaptability**
- Potential to influence future Google offices
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## Conclusion
Google’s St. John's Terminal is more than just an office; it’s a testament to how historical structures can be beautifully repurposed to create functional and futuristic workspaces. Balancing history with innovation, this remarkable building reflects a new era of work environments designed for flexibility, business needs, and well-being.
