Google plans a new campus near Seattle
Alphabet’s Google is building a new campus near Seattle, increasing its presence in a region that is home to Amazon and Microsoft.
Google bought 10 acres of land near its existing campus in Kirkland, Wash., And plans to use it to expand in the region, according to a note sent to employees earlier this week and seen by Bloomberg. Business Insider reported earlier on Friday that the company had bought a former car dealership in the area, citing real estate records. In July, Google paid $ 40 million for other land nearby.
Even before the pandemic, tech companies were looking to expand into the eastern suburbs of Seattle to be closer to where some of their employees live. Many have continued with these plans, even as the pandemic keeps offices closed and workers at home.
In Bellevue, just south of Kirkland, Facebook bought and rented space in a new development called the Spring District. Seattle-based Amazon said in September that it had signed new leases at Bellevue and would eventually employ 25,000 people there, up from around 3,000 at the time.
The activity has been a positive for office owners in the Puget Sound area. Vacancy rates in Bellevue and Kirkland were 6.1% and 4.6%, respectively, in the third quarter, according to a recent report from the CBRE group in downtown Seattle, the rate was 10%.
“This transaction reinforces our commitment to be a part of the Kirkland community for the long term and will provide us with very valuable flexibility to adapt to the future growth of Google Kirkland,” wrote a company executive in the note.
