What a difference a year makes: Google's most recent plans for a new Mountain View campus look a bit different from the flexible, modular renders initially revealed in 2015.
Last year's proposal tipped a transparent glass dome, housing workers in "lightweight block-like structures" that could be easily moved as the company expands its product lineup.
Now, the draft offices at 1200 Shoreline Blvd.—known as Charleston East—are looking more like a festival grounds, with buildings covered by a massive tent-like canopy roof.
Originally described as "a piece of glass fabric" to be draped over tent poles, the pavilion roof will be designed to regulate indoor climate, air quality, and sound, according to Google's February 2016 plans.
One thing that hasn't changed, however, is the company's focus on blurring the inside and outside worlds: New images highlight loads of green spaces, open areas, and even creeks where folks can eat, exercise, and commune with nature.
The campus will also feature public and retail amenities, including bike and pedestrian paths and restaurants.
The search giant intends to redevelop four sites where it already has offices, but wants to "significantly increase" its square footage.
To meet that goal, the final campus will be nearly 600,000 square feet, reportedly featuring 45,000 square feet of interior landscaping and nearly 20,000 square feet of public walkways.
As the Silicon Valley Business Journal reports, the Mountain View City Council last year denied Google's request to expand into North Bayshore as it wanted, and gave the chunk of land Google requested to LinkedIn. But it's still moving ahead with plans in an area known as Charleston East.
The council did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.
Of course, Google is not the only tech firm sprucing up its headquarters. Facebook moved into a sprawling, open-style building in Menlo Park designed by famed architect Frank Gehry. And Apple is creating its giant "spaceship" campus in Cupertino.