Google has been in news of late majorly for its acquisition deals, which includes even the not-yet acquired Motorola. Yet again the search engine giant has completed an acquisition, but this time it is of a big office complex in Mountain View. The amount expectedly is a big one too as it now stands in the Google assets at a value of $100 million. It is Google largest property purchase of 2011 in Silicon Valley. The property is called The Landmark and is a cluster of two-story office buildings on Landings Drive near Charleston Road just north of U.S. Highway 101.
Contra Costa Times reported that Google has confirmed acquiring this immovable property, which is located exactly at Shoreline, a 240,000-square-foot office center. The confirmation came from David Radcliffe, a Google vice president of real estate and workplace services. David said, “As we continue to hire it’s important to find space for our new employees … We look forward to incorporating it into our campus.” The company has smartly chose a new office, which is next to Google’s main headquarters complex. The report even noted that the premises would allow them to accommodate approximately 960 workers.
County property records shows that the sale was recorded between Broadreach Capital Partners, an affiliate of realty investment firm and Google on Oct. 18.
Google has been eating up properties and in the current year it has purchased immovable properties of around $225 million, which counts for at least 15 properties in Mountain View. This was noted according to public documents and realty agents.
Jim Beeger, a senior vice president with realty brokerage Colliers International qouted Google to be a Pac-Man, as he said, “Google is like Pac-Man … They are gobbling up everything in one corridor and then going up another corridor.”
However, there seems to be a pattern Google is aiming to accomplish as most of its expansions have been initially centered on those immovable assets which are north of Highway 101, followed by some sites south of 101. Basically, these are on the other side of the freeway, which has an inclusion of low-slung research buildings on Terra Bella and a four-building complex a few blocks from Mountain View’s downtown.
Google had plans to move into Sunnyvale,as they had decided the same in August, when they took in a four-building project known as the Ariba Campus on lease. Beeger surprisingly noted, “I haven’t seen anything quite like this in Silicon Valley. Apple and Cisco have had some bursts of expansion. But they haven’t taken this much space.”
However, Mountain View offices stated that the city’s growth has been blostering because of Google’s growth. This can be confirmed, as Ellis Berns, the city’s economic development director said, “The Landmark deal not only solidifies Google’s presence in Mountain View, but it also helps make Mountain View a center for innovation. Google is drawing in other companies, and innovation startups.”
Google has been on an acquisition spree, as the company either acquires other companies or properties on a regular basis.
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