10. June 2005 • Murph
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While Google declined to comment on any firm intent, the Detroit News reports that they’ve been scouting Ann Arbor for a large chunk of real estate:
Ann Arbor may become home to a new technology center for up to 1,000 employees from Google Inc., the Internet search engine giant that was recently hired to digitize the University of Michigan’s 19 libraries.
In recent weeks, Google real estate representatives were scouting the Ann Arbor area for up to 75,000 square feet of space for a technology center that would help meet the company’s growing demand.
Boston and Boulder are mentioned speculatively as other possible locations. Detroit, sadly, is not mentioned except in the context that Ann Arbor has the lowest commercial vacancies in the region.
Michigan Business Review has a slightly more real estate-wonky piece on Google’s needs, saying they’re probably interested in existing facilities with little tenant build-out, and that no sites downtown or near campus are likely to fit the bill. Hello, Ellsworth Road.
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The lease term could range from three to five years, making an existing facility with few tenant build-out needs a likely contender.”
Good God. If these people are seriously rejecting sites because of a lack of 480, then they need to quit their business dealings, and just stick to dinking around with computers…..that is, if they can figure out how to get electricity to their components.
It takes about a half a week and a few grand (for a 200,000 square ft. building, this is an insignificant cost) to put in a 480 transformer. Heck, if we can do it, I would thing that google’s engineers could figure out how to make this happen.
.....geez, they’re looking to house 1,000 people, and they’re worried about paying for wiring? WTF?!
—todd Jun. 10 '05 - 01:16PM #
It still seems like a relatively small part of the deal for the size of project Google is talking – but if Boston has half a dozen sites that Google could move into tomorrow if they desired, it’s a non-negligible part of the deal.
—Murph Jun. 10 '05 - 01:28PM #
I’d be much more worried about things like the cost of living, the quality of the UMich grads, and personal property tax levels. I can only imagine how many tens of thousands of dollars would be levied against all the computer equipment that they’d be installing.
When you think of all of the wiring needed for the inside of the building, I don’t understand why they’d be concerned about the one big cable that runs to a transformer that sits outside of the building. If they were only running a few dozen pieces of enormous equipment, maybe I’d get where they were coming from…...
—todd Jun. 10 '05 - 01:47PM #
—Rob Jun. 10 '05 - 03:07PM #
Rob, the old Borders space isn’t good space. They get a lot of fumes from the trucks that park under the Maynard St. Parking structure, it is pretty chopped up (there is a big staircase right through the middle), and there are no external windows. The University got out of that space as soon as they could (I think they may still be paying on the lease) because staff were very unhappy/unhealthy there. I can’t imagine it would be the kind of space a company like Google would take over.
—Juliew Jun. 10 '05 - 03:30PM #
Mine too. The comment about 480v is out of left field. With all of the factors involved in site selection for a publicly traded tech company, voltage is way, way down on the list if they are allowed to set up anywhere in the U.S.
I mean, if $$ is really the issue, then they’d be better served to focus on comparing taxes, Kilowatt costs, and whether or not utility deregulation is in effect or on the horizon. A fixed one time cost just isn’t that big of a deal for a public company, when compared to all of their other concerns (location, attractiveness for potential employees, etc.), whether financial or otherwise.
...and clearly time is a factor for these guys, or they’d just buy a build to suit parcel of land and get exactly what they want.
—todd Jun. 10 '05 - 03:49PM #
—Murph. Jun. 10 '05 - 04:13PM #
last year, google hired three students out of my lab, and one the year before that … and of course you know that one of google’s founders is a umich graduate …
all in all, i think google has a pretty positive view of the quality of umich grads :-)
—peter honeyman Jun. 10 '05 - 04:14PM #
—Rob Jun. 10 '05 - 04:18PM #
Rob, honestly I don’t know what the old Borders building is best for now. The inside looks pretty nice, but the poor air and the lack of windows (or any way of getting some natural light are big problems. There are also a lot of vibrations and noise since the parking structure is above it. While they were working on the Maynard structure, the fumes and noise got so bad that OSHA required staff inside to wear ear protection and breathing masks.
—Juliew Jun. 10 '05 - 05:45PM #
Maybe the lovely new Internet2 building could be repurposed? Again probably not big enough, and there are a few existing tenants there.
—Edward Vielmetti Jun. 10 '05 - 06:01PM #
Ha. 1,000 new tech employees in the heart of downtown? Why must you taunt? :)
....and “parking would be a problem”, nice touch. Don’t think that I don’t appreciate the comedy, Julie.
—todd Jun. 10 '05 - 07:07PM #
—Murph Jun. 10 '05 - 07:19PM #
—Juliew Jun. 10 '05 - 07:23PM #
I’d be willing to argue that Google represents ‘life’ science better than most of the other projects that will be taking place there…
—Marc R. Jun. 10 '05 - 07:44PM #
—John Q. Jun. 11 '05 - 02:44AM #
—Eric Lipson. Jun. 11 '05 - 11:17AM #
The tech park down on the northeast corner of State and Ellsworth has, I believe, had vacancy problems for quite some time. They’re also, though, probably badly in need of rehabbing to hit google standards. Avis Farms, on State south of the airport, has also been having vacancy problems. I don’t know how much square footage is available at either place, though.
I don’t really want to encourage Google to take their 1000 people and 200,000 square feet outside the freeway ring, though.
Ooooooh, maybe Lower Town! Lease them the old Suzuki Tech Center to start, with office space overlapping into the Broadway Village project! That’ll get BV moving (they’re waiting to hit pre-leasing targets right now), and I remember Peter Allen saying in class that Suzuki had all the power anybody could want.
Google sparking the second renaissance of Lower Town. (The first one being when the U knocked down everything for parking lots, sigh.) Ah, Murph’s happy world…
—Murph Jun. 11 '05 - 02:03PM #
—John Q Jun. 14 '05 - 01:53PM #
—Murph Jun. 14 '05 - 03:32PM #
—js Jun. 14 '05 - 07:18PM #
page@google.com
(maybe leave out the … um … sticky stuff.)
—peter honeyman Jun. 14 '05 - 10:10PM #
As for the State Street area, Avis Farms is not ideal because AATA buses drop you about a mile away. Unless there are proposals to extend bus service to the whole “tech corridor”. Having gone to an interview out there I’m dubious about working in an office park setting. Not very lively and so many miles of ugly manicured lawns.
For those looking to earn some extra $$ on the side, Google does hire “Quality Raters” (check out their employment page) which is work you do on-line. Perfect for students. Esp. those with foreign language skills
http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/eng/test.html#qr
—Eris Jun. 16 '05 - 01:15PM #
(1) If Google comes to Ann Arbor, you can bet AATA will come to Google.
(2) DDOT’s buses are dirty, noisy, and poorly maintained, but they do run 24 hours a day. During business hours, most routes are standing room only. Whatever the mayor may think about the buses, Detroit needs them, and the service will continue.
—Larry Kestenbaum Jun. 16 '05 - 01:35PM #
—Rob Jun. 21 '05 - 09:22PM #
I think it makes a lot of sense.
Michael
—Michael Yi Jul. 25 '05 - 12:50PM #
http://annarbor.craigslist.org/sad/97285460.html
—Michael Yi Sep. 22 '05 - 01:55PM #
Michigan Business Review says Google’s current hiring is for the digitization project , and mentions that google still isn’t talking on the Googleplex search.
The company seeks to hire technicians that will install and maintain new servers equipment capable of processing and storing network information in a server room at an undisclosed site in the city.
Google [Nasdaq: GOOG] had been looking for up to 40,000 square feet of space for the digitization project, as well as up to 250,000 square feet capable of housing a Googleplex, its name for a combined technology/call center (See Business Review, June 9-15). The company has refused to comment on the state of either space search, and sources say that anyone working with Google has been bound by strict confidentiality agreements.
However, it appears that the company has identified a site for the digitization project, though no details are available on its location. Ads placed by Google on Internet job-search sites and its own Web site make it clear that it will be hiring for a site that will have new equipment. The digitization is taking place in libraries nationwide, despite challenges over copyright issues.
Incidentally, I was checking MBusinessReview not for a story on this, but because I recognized your name – looks like that was last week’s issue, though, and they don’t have any archives (wtf?). So, I’ll just ask, are you the guy who just bought half a dozen buildings on Liberty? Or am I misremembering names?
—Murph. Sep. 22 '05 - 03:16PM #
You caught me red handed. I am the person that bought the building. You can see why I am interested in knowing whether or not Googleplex is coming to AA. I am very hopefull they will. It would be a great fit for AA and U of M.
Michael
—Michael Yi Sep. 23 '05 - 03:51AM #
Google coming to AA!!! Yeeha!!!
http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1152628954317620.xml&coll=2&thispage=5
Michael
—Michael Yi Jul. 11 '06 - 10:51PM #
Does anyone have information on where Google is interviewing or on how to apply? There is nothing on the Google website indicating they have openings.
—Lynn Jul. 12 '06 - 11:26PM #
Lynn, if you can’t figure how to apply maybe you or your family should not bother?
—Larry & Sergey Jul. 12 '06 - 11:54PM #
Lynn,
You can find the job postings here:
http://www.google.com/support/jobs/bin/topic.py?loc_id=8371&dep_id=1173
—John Q. Jul. 13 '06 - 12:23AM #
John Q.
Are you forgetting your Darwin?
—Larry & Sergey Jul. 13 '06 - 12:32AM #
Good luck finding that posting Lynn,
PS – Larry and Sergey are 100%, pure, prime-cut jack-asses!
—Ned Jul. 25 '06 - 10:29PM #
The people at Google pass over way to many people cause they think everyone needs to be Ivy League to work for them. They can go back to Cali with that nonesense
—Joe Blow May. 24 '07 - 07:13PM #
“Joe” I suggest you talk with a Google recruiter. Google looks for extroverted and free thinking people who don’t like/need a lot of structure and organization. They look to fill their ranks with a mix of seasoned folks and young college grads. If you are introverted, more structured based, then Google will not work well for you. Feel free to send your resume to Google, they often hire people not necessarily hire for a job posting/head count. (P.S. I’m not a recruiter)
—Sellers Sep. 1 '07 - 03:30AM #