Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Order a copy
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2022

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Order a copy
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2022

Home News Industries Technology You can Google it

You can Google it

Amazon isn’t the only tech giant making moves in NoVa

Published March 1, 2020 by Stephenie Overman

Google leases the top two floors of this Reston office building by the Dulles Toll Road. Photo courtesy GlobeNewswire
Google leases the top two floors of this Reston office building by the Dulles Toll Road. Photo courtesy GlobeNewswire

If it’s not one tech giant, it’s another. Ever since Amazon.com Inc. ann­ounced in late 2018 that it would open a second headquarters in Arlington County, discussions about workforce and real estate in Northern Virginia have fixed on the e-tailer.

But Google LLC’s been busy, too. Last year the Mountain View, California-based global tech company announced a $13 billion investment across the United States. That includes major investments in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

What stands out — physically — in Northern Virginia is Google’s new Reston office space. The company has maintained a presence in Reston since opening a small office there in 2005, but last spring Google signed a lease with Comstock for the top two floors, about 165,000 square feet, in 1900 Reston Metro Plaza, a distinctive building at Metro’s Silver Line Wiehle-Reston East Station.

The 16-story building, designed by architect Helmut Jahn, has bold geometry, an exposed structure and color-changing edge lighting. It looms over the Dulles Toll Road.

“Currently, we have over 300 Googlers — our name for our employees — across our data center in Loudoun County and office in Reston. We are continuing to hire for openings at our data centers and various teams in Reston,” says Peter Schottenfels, communications manager at Google. In 2019, the company surpassed 100,000 employees worldwide. Google expects to roughly double its workforce in Northern Virginia.

In 2018, Google announced plans to construct a data center complex in Loudoun County, and last year the company announced the expansion of the facility, bringing its total investment in Northern Virginia to $1.2 billion. Loudoun, known as “Data Center Alley,” is home to one of the largest concentrations of data centers in the world, with about 13.5 million square feet in operation.

“We build out our data centers in response to our own needs as a company, as well as customer demand for cloud services. Data centers are the engines of the internet,” Schottenfels says. “When you use Search, Gmail or YouTube, that information goes through one of our data centers.”

Google is the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy and has signed contracts for renewable energy that “will ensure that our facilities in Northern Virginia are matched with 100% renewable energy,” he says.

The company is looking to fill a variety of full-time and contractor positions in Loudoun, including computer technicians, engineers and various food services, maintenance and security roles, according to its website.

And it has plans to help build the talent pipeline it will need to fill those positions, according to Schottenfels.

“Not only are we excited by the region’s geographic location, friendly business environment and talented   workforce, we’re committed to being good neighbors and having a positive impact in the community,” he says. “In the past year, we’ve given $100,000 to the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, and $100,000 to the Loudoun Education Foundation. Since 2011, Google has contributed $27.1 million in grants and employee-matched gifts to Virginia nonprofits and schools.”

The grants will support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs, teacher training and grants for classroom materials, as well as special programs like the LEF-LCPS Backpack Coalition, which feeds 850 students and their families during the school year, according to Loudoun Economic Development.

Google “has truly embraced the role of a Loudoun corporate citizen,” says Buddy Rizer, executive director of Loudoun Economic Development. “It’s incredibly rewarding to work with companies like Google that enrich our community and positively shape the next generation.”

Related Stories

Virginia Business logo

The byte goes on

Boosted by Amazon, NoVa’s tech hub keeps growing

Virginia Business logo

Northern Virginia Technology Council chooses acting CEO

Brad Schwartz to take interim position following Bobbie Kilberg's June 30 retirement

Virginia Business logo

Private equity firm acquires Herndon tech company

Thoma Bravo buys Exostar; transaction amount not disclosed

Trending

William & Mary names new business school dean

Carsales.com to fully acquire Trader Interactive

UNOS CEO announces departure

Sponsored Stories

What can Supply Chain Consultants do for me?

The Lowdown on Downloads for Your Online Experience

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Creating An Urban Destination in Chesapeake

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

William & Mary names new business school dean

Carsales.com to fully acquire Trader Interactive

UNOS CEO announces departure

Sponsored Stories

What can Supply Chain Consultants do for me?

The Lowdown on Downloads for Your Online Experience

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Creating An Urban Destination in Chesapeake

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2022 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk