Frank Gehry redesigns Facebook's west campus Menlo Park, posted by Editor, The Almanac Online, on Aug 24, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Frank Gehry is to architecture as Mark Zuckerberg is to social media: A star. The famous architect, known for award-winning designs described at times as "a collision of parts" is now gracing Menlo Park with his expertise.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, August 24, 2012, 11:46 AM
Posted by WhoRUpeople, a resident of another community, on Aug 24, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Interesting-FB gets MP approval based on one plan, and then switches to another. I guess money talks and BS walks(as well as CQUA). Wonder how emergency first responders will like this new plan. Hey,l but we have a design by a big name architect in MP, so don't ask any questions.
Posted by Alan, a resident of the Menlo Park: Belle Haven neighborhood, on Aug 24, 2012 at 2:58 pm
I think this is pretty cool. Let's not be cynical.
Kathy - Facebook is still worth $50 billion. Their stock price isn't so much in the toilet, as it did not rise to extremes of irrational exuberance. They can afford this; and, if you read the article, it's apparently not more expensive than a comparable conventional campus.
WhoRUpeople - I think Frank Gehry knows how to design to code.
Posted by Sam Sinnott, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 24, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Gehry is an artist but doesn't care about budget unless the budget is outrageously high. Curved steel beams get expensive.
He recently built a housing tower in Hong Kong for close to $20,000 per square foot. A very high end commercial building with finished interiors would run about $400 per SF here.
Also ...Ask MIT about his waterproofing details (or lack of).
Still it is very good for Menlo Park. It should count as public art.
Posted by Alan, a resident of the Menlo Park: Belle Haven neighborhood, on Aug 24, 2012 at 3:30 pm
@Sam - well - I was surprised when the article said it would be as cheap as a typical Silicon Valley campus ... it's probably a little pricier than your cookie-cutter glass-and-steel marvel.
I also remember the problem they had with the Disney Concert Hall. Initially, the surface was too shiny, and acting like a solar oven; it was "cooking" condominiums in a neighboring building, raising their temperature by 10-15 degrees. They had to buff down the surface of the concert hall to eliminate the problem.
Posted by Faceplant, a resident of the Menlo Park: Felton Gables neighborhood, on Aug 24, 2012 at 6:06 pm
$400/square foot? I doubt it. That's not much higher than average for your basic home remodel. Speaking of homes, maybe they can add in housing for their employees and take some of the pressure off the city they now call home.
Posted by WhoRUpeople, a resident of another community, on Aug 27, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Alan, I'm sure Mr. Gehry knows how to design to code, my concern is whether or not he does. On the surface I see a myriad of issues with this plan, not the lease of which are: emergency vehicle access within code distances, smoke control within the interior spaces, and a complete change to the impact on heritage trees from the initial plan submitted that was studied in the EIR. I could go on, but won't. I do agree with the editorial that appears in today's Post regarding the danger of letting a big name slide, however. My personal view is this is a classic "bait and switch" by FB.
Posted by Peter Carpenter, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Aug 27, 2012 at 2:46 pm Peter Carpenter is a member (registered user) of Almanac Online
WhoRUpeople is right - Gehry and Facebook are going to need to spend a LOT of time with the Fire Marshall in order to get a building permit for this very innovative designs. Building codes and fire regulation represent the current state of the art - Gehry always tries to move beyond the state of the art. It will be interesting to see how innovation and regulation interact on this project.
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