Google Canada’s eco-friendly office

It would be hard to find a more modern, eco-friendly, cutting-edge office than Google Canada’s new Toronto digs.

The new suite of offices and board rooms mark the completion of a research project: the creation of an innovative workspace balancing environmental responsibility with a relaxed working environment.

From the entrance hall floor, made from reclaimed (and polished) concrete, to doors are made from wheat trees, to floors made from recycled bicycle tires, no effort was spared to make the office as green as possible.

Examples? Where to begin? All the lighting fixtures were chosen on the basis of lifespan (longest) and the wattage (lowest). The ceiling tiles, completely soundproof, use 70% recycled materials. Wall frames and structural paneling are made with 60-80% of recycled galvanized steel.

Consideration was even given to which colour to paint the walls – “green.” Not literally, of course – Google would never be so drab. Google used 100% acrylic low-odour, low VOC paints, cleaned using only water.

Besides eco-friendly design, Google eschews traditional office design and encourages its workers to find spots that suit them best. Employees are free to take their laptops into any yoga ball or massage chair-filled nook to work as they see fit.

Of course, a comprehensive green strategy extends beyond office walls. Google encourages their employees to use public transportation, offering a monthly subsidy added to that employee’s pay – no need to submit receipts or proof.

Google has reliably pushed the boundaries of contemporary office design, and its Toronto headquarters is no different.