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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (KTVU) – On Friday Google submitted plans for a major expansion in Mountain View.
But with limited space in the development area, their growth may keep other companies from growing there too.
Images released Friday, show what the company hopes to build in Mountain View.
It would mark the first time they've designed new structures from scratch; and Google says they've pushed their architects to think outside the box.
"We know it just needs to be this incredibly flexible space to work," says David Radcliffe of Google in a video released by the company.
Large translucent canopies would cover lightweight, box-like structures that could easily be moved around.
Essentially, the work spaces could be reconfigured and tailored to the people using them.
"It's almost like the Lincoln Logs when we were kids. You can just pile them up and assemble them differently, with basically no new materials," Radcliffe says.
Although they would be redeveloping four sites where the company already has offices, permission to proceed will be the challenge.
On Friday Mountain View took proposals from all companies looking for extra space in the North Bayshore area.
That includes Google, LinkedIn, Broadreach Capital and others.
"We have our criteria for how we're going to select them based on how they fit in, type of community benefits that they're bringing to the table, the sizing, the use of the land," says Mayor John McAlister.
And competition will be stiff. There is about 2.5 million square feet of space available in the North Bayshore area. But with at least five proposals expected, can they all fit?
"In all likelihood, no. We expect that we will get requests for floor area that exceed the 2.5 million sq. feet," says Community Development Director, Randy Tsuda.
In fact, Google's proposal alone would likely take up all the available square footage, meaning there wouldn't be room for the other companies.
So Mountain View city officials will have some tough decisions on their hands.
"We expect it to be challenging. But you take it a step at a time," says Tsuda.
Now they'll begin sifting through the mountains of paperwork and plans to see whether Google will get the green light to move forward.
Traffic and housing are a major concern in Mountain View. But, there is always a chance Mountain View will consider authorizing more square footage, or asking companies to scale down their proposals.
They will meet on this in late April.