Google Goes To NASA

NASA and Google Inc. are planning to develop a new high-technology campus at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. The search major and the space agency have inked a 40-year agreement under which Google will lease 42.2 acres of unimproved land in NASA Research Park at Ames to construct up to 1.2 million square feet of offices and research and development (R&D) facilities in a campus-style setting.
Google will pay NASA an initial base rent of $3.66 million per year. This rate is based on appraisals establishing fair market value of the land. NASA will use the proceeds to cover the full cost of the lease and the balance for maintenance, capital revitalisation and improvements of the real property assets at Ames.
"With this new campus, we will establish a new era of expanded collaboration with Google that will further enhance our Silicon Valley connections," said S. Pete Worden, Ames director, NASA. "This major expansion of NASA Research Park supports NASA's mission to lead the nation in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.

"The construction of the site will proceed in three phases. The first phase is planned to begin by the end of September 2013, the second phase by 2018 and the third by 2022. While the majority of the development will consist of office and R&D space, Google also plans to construct company housing and amenities such as dining, sports, fitness, child care, conference and parking facilities for its employees, as well as recreation and parking facilities and infrastructure improvements for NASA's use.
"This long-term lease agreement is a key component of Google's strategy for continued growth in Silicon Valley," said David Radcliffe, vice president, real estate and workplace services, Google. "We believe this collaboration between Google, NASA and the city of Mountain View is emblematic of the mutually beneficial partnerships that can be created between the public and private sectors."