An inside look at Google’s tricked-out Toronto office
An inside look at Google’s tricked-out Toronto office
By Frances McInnis | November 20, 2012
By Frances McInnis | 11/20/2012
Google moved its Toronto office from Yonge and Dundas to a brand-new, five-floor space at 111 Richmond St. W., which will likely make cubicle-dwellers across the city wish they had been bigger geeks in high school. There’s a massage room (masseurs come twice a week, and employees pay only the tip), stocked kitchens on every floor and free breakfast and lunch every day in the main canteen. There are also 42 conference, huddle and phone rooms of all sizes, including one in a teepee. If Googlers dream of music superstardom, there’s a DJ room and a soundproof music studio. Or, if they secretly long to be secret agents, there’s a hidden living room accessed by a revolving bookcase (handy for a post-lunch—or jam sesh—nap, we imagine).
Take the tour »
177641 The mini golf course on the terrace (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice_intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice_intro/ nov12googleoffice_intro 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177630 One of the larger meeting rooms (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice03.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice03/ nov12googleoffice03 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177629 Toronto Googlers voted on the theme for the meeting room names and chose Toronto landmarks. This is the Eaton Centre room. Others include High Park, AGO and Sam the Record Man (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice02/ nov12googleoffice02 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177631 When staff members need tech support or supplies, one-on-one help is available at the computer bar (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice04/ nov12googleoffice04 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177633 There are games throughout the office, including old-school arcade games, ping-pong and billiards (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice06/ nov12googleoffice06 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177636 The secret room (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice09.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice09/ nov12googleoffice09 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177635 The library on the 16th floor is designed for quiet work or chats with small groups. It has a bookcase wall that revolves to reveal a secret lounge with a fireplace and soft couches (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice08.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice08/ nov12googleoffice08 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177632 For an informal meeting, staff might opt to relax in the tent room (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice05.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice05/ nov12googleoffice05 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177638 The main kitchen serves fresh seasonal breakfasts and lunches, and the menu changes daily. Best of all: it’s free. (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice11/ nov12googleoffice11 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177640 This is the micro kitchen on the 12th floor, which has a partition wall crafted from orphaned bicycles (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice13.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice13/ nov12googleoffice13 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177639 Each floor has a “micro kitchen” stocked with coffee, drinks and snacks like dried fruit and trail mix (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice12.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice12/ nov12googleoffice12 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177634 A lot of effort went into making the new space environmentally responsible. For example, the carpets were made from reclaimed fishing nets, and many of the walls were made from reclaimed wood (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice07/ nov12googleoffice07 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
177628 The rustic fireplace lounge on the 15th floor has digital (not real) flames and a Canadiana theme (Image: Camilla Pucholt) Google’s Toronto office Google’s Toronto office https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12GoogleOffice01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/google-new-toronto-office/slide/nov12googleoffice01/ nov12googleoffice01 0 0
(Image: Camilla Pucholt)
This is exactly like my office, except we don’t have games, food, support, supplies or colours other than grey or beige.
I love it!!
TL, were u trying to shock us ? Its Google you dumbo we all expect this and love it!
Great place to have an office romance! Especially in that tent! Yee Haw!