Apple
The 2.8 million sq ft “Spaceship” campus, due to open in 2016, has drawn comparisons with the Death Star in Star Wars. It will house around 14,200 employees and cost an estimated $5bn (£3.25bn) to build. It will also contain a 1,000-seat auditorium, a gym and 300,000sq ft of “research” space.
Amazon
The 65,000sq ft, five-floor ‘Bio Dome’ will be filled with plants chosen for their ability to thrive in a microclimate comfortable for humans. Standing in the centre of Seattle, it will include a variety of botanical zones “modelled on ecologies found around the globe”.
Facebook
Mack Zuckerberg’s company hired architect Frank Gehry to design its West campus extension in California. The 420,000sq ft campus – essentially one large open room of 10 acres – will be home to Facebook HQ’s 3,400 engineers.
Samsung
Samsung’s new Silicon Valley complex, due for completion in 2015, will hold 2,000 employees. Comprised of two 10-storey buildings connected by bridges, the design is supposed to encourage collaboration between employees.
Google
The internet giant submitted plans last week for a London office described as a “groundscraper”. The Kings Cross development will sit in a 2.4-acre site and cost 650m. The site is expected to include a 20,000sq ft area for bike parking.
