Construction has reached the final stages on Google’s 1.3 million-square-foot headquarters at 550 Washington Street in Hudson Square. Designed by COOKFOX Architects and developed by Oxford Properties, the project involves the repurposing and vertical expansion of the former St. John’s Terminal building along the Hudson River waterfront. The 232-foot-tall structure will serve as the centerpiece of the 1.7 million-square-foot “Googleplex” master plan along with 315 Hudson Street and 345 Hudson Street. Turner Construction is the general contractor for the property, which spans two full city blocks between West Street, West Houston Street, Washington Street, and the New York Department of Sanitation building.
At the time of our last update in November 2021, work was still shaping up on the northern end of the podium, while the construction elevator remained attached near the southwestern corner. The latter has since been dismantled, and the podium floors along West Houston Street have been finished with lush landscaping.
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
The following close-up shots show the finished look of the northern end of the podium and its green terrace. Raised garden beds with trees have been installed around the main entrance and on the staggered cantilever above, which features exposed steel I-beams encased in white concrete for a rusticated industrial look. Tall grasses and an array of shrubbery hang over the terrace, creating a nice contrast with the sleek glass wall behind. The entire elevation is set back from the sidewalk, with large warehouse windows lining the brick-clad side walls.
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
Below is a rendering showing the final outcome.
Rendering of 550 Washington Street by COOKFOX Architects
Here is a further perspective of the entire building from Jersey City back in the spring.
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
Sidewalk scaffolding still wraps around most of the first floor, but should be removed soon as work reaches the finish line.
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
550 Washington Street. Photo by Michael Young
Construction at 550 Washington Street should likely conclude sometime this fall.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
Tall grasses and an array of shrubbery hang over the terrace, and large warehouse windows lining the brick-clad side walls. I thought that it feels on industrial look beautiful, with views above are showing its darker exterior: Thanks to Michael Young.
Beautiful, now they need to get some of their people to actually show up in the office!
I pass by this to and from work on the weekends- really is an amazingly massive building.
Any ideas as to what the plans are for the now empty plot of land on the other side of West Houston, where the rest of the original warehouse used to be?
I believe that bit is supposed to become a park at some point.
What was the point of preserving the old building that now acts as a podium? It is hardly attractive, or historic, and its masonry heavily patched.
If it is salvageable than keep it. It provides character to the new structure that would otherwise take years to naturally occur. Seeing where rail lines used to run through the upper levels of the building is interesting and helps to create a sense of uniqueness to the building that few other offices in the area have.