ADAM ELMAN
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
The facility represents a departure from Silicon Valley ’ s conventional glass and steel structures , and demonstrates the company ’ s evolving approach to sustainable construction .
“ Today , we ’ re announcing a new office that showcases the principles we ’ ve long applied to our real estate : creating sustainable spaces that allow Googlers to do their best work ,” says Scott Foster , Vice President of Real Estate & Workplace Services at Google .
Mass timber construction The 1265 Borregas facility utilises mass timber – an engineered wood product created by laminating multiple layers of lumber into structural components that can replace traditional steel and concrete . This construction method enables the building to store carbon within its structure rather than releasing it during manufacturing .
The building ’ s environmental impact calculations indicate a 96 % reduction in embodied carbon emissions compared to equivalent steel and concrete structures , accounting for carbon sequestration over time . Google sourced all structural timber from Forest Stewardship Council certified forests .
ADAM ELMAN
TITLE : SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR COMPANY : GOOGLE
INDUSTRY : SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
• Adam Elman leads Google ’ s sustainability initiatives across Europe , Middle East and Africa as Head of Sustainability for EMEA
• He brings over 18 years of experience driving sustainability transformations at major global companies
Workplace innovation The facility incorporates several technical innovations in environmental control . An underfloor air distribution system manages temperature regulation , while automated wooden blinds adjust to solar position using sensor technology to maintain optimal lighting conditions .
144 January 2025