Google’s ‘dragonscale’ solar-powered roof signals growing demand for sustainable workspaces
The finished building in Mountain View will have an estimated 90,000 tiles forming a ‘solar skin’. Photograph: YouTube/Google Real Estate
Tightening regulations and a growing eco-conscious workforce are major factors in heralding green office campuses. About 40 miles south of San Francisco, three futuristic structures rise from the earth. They are, in fact, part of Google’s new Bay View campus, which is due to welcome employees this year – pandemic allowing – and is situated a few miles east of its existing HQ campus in Mountain View.
The firm says the finished buildings will have 90,000 tiles which form a “solar skin” roof, which its designers have named “dragonscale” and estimate will generate almost 7 megawatts of energy or 40% of the electricity needs of the campus.
As well as the “dragonscale” solar panels, Google’s new campus also plans to have a geothermal battery underground where it will store heat to warm the building. Google has been working on the project with architecture firms Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)...
