Google's new California offices bank on in-person work

A Google worker works at Google’s Bay View campus in Mountain View, California

Roofs coated with canopy-like solar panels and indoor spaces awash in sunlight: Google has bet big on in-person work with its sprawling new Silicon Valley offices.

AFP visited Google's 1.1 million square foot (100,000 square metre) campus on Monday as the tech giant welcomes employees back after pandemic-era telecommuting.

"Thank god, because otherwise we would have built these buildings and we would have to change," she added.

It includes an event center and small apartments that employees from out of town can use when visiting for work.

- 'Not going empty' -

Upper floors of the two story structures are home to desks, with furniture and fixtures easily reconfigured as teams want. 

"The ground level is really like a market, so it's more the vibrant." Kaufmann said.

Bay View campus is planned to accommodate 4,500 workers, with move in to take place during the coming weeks. 

Google expects a norm going forward for people to typically work from the office about three days a week, with that rhythm changing depending on phases of projects and, of course, the tempo of the pandemic.

"We are more worried are we going to have enough space, just because the company is still growing," she added.

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