Dive Brief:

• Google announced plans this week to develop a mixed-use project on 40 acres of land in Mountain View, California. Australia-based contractor Lendlease will design and build the project.
• The proposal includes 1.3 million square feet of office space, up to 1,850 housing units, 30,000 square feet of retail, 20,000 square feet of event space and 12 acres of open space. The cost of the project has not been announced.
• East Whisman, the Mountain View neighborhood that will be developed, was rezoned for residential use and taller buildings in late 2019, opening the door for Google to develop a new campus, including the residential space. 

Dive Insight:

The new project marks the second time in recent years that Lendlease has collaborated with the tech giant. In July 2019, Lendlease landed a $15 billion contract with Google — which is based in Mountain View — to develop and build 5 million square feet of residential, retail, hospitality and other projects in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Both projects are aimed at increasing housing options for middle-class workers in a state that's known for its exorbitant cost of living.

“We are eager to move forward in collaboration with Google, delivering much needed housing in the Bay Area,” Andrew Chappell, project director for Lendlease, said in a statement about the Mountain View proposal.

The six residential buildings included in the Mountain View development will total between 1,675 and 1,850 units, with a combination of units for rent and ownership and 20% of them set aside for affordable housing. Building heights in the space are now permitted to reach 95 feet, much higher than what was allowed prior to the rezoning. 

A majority of the property is made up of surface street parking, which Google will replace with two parking garages. Building those parking structures will create enough room for the 12 acres of open space.

Google has released initial renderings, but a spokesperson for the internet giant said they are not part of the formal development proposal, which will eventually become available on the city’s website.

Although this is a new campus project for Google and Lendlease, the companies say there is more to come.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Lendlease, and just the beginning of our collaborative partnership as we help Google realize their vision for progressive, vibrant and sustainable mixed-use communities,” Claire Johnston, managing director at Lendlease, said in a statement.