‘Googly’ work amenities rival some holiday resorts

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

: many people they plan to hire in the Seattle area in the coming years, though the company has quickly grown from two people four years ago to more than 450 people today.

“In the case of Kirkland and Seattle, the growth rate has been astounding because we have been able to find some really, really talented people,” said Alan Eustace, senior vice president of engineering and research. “That has fueled, I think, one of the highest growth rates we have had worldwide and I expect we will continue to try to grow as we find the best people.”

Technology insiders who attended the open house said it is a good thing that Google has chosen to grow in Seattle.

Google’s new office, along with Yahoo’s plans to expand in Bellevue and the new startup companies that are being formed, create what venture capitalist Tom Alberg calls “intellectual stimulation”. “I think ultimately it is a cycle of people,” said Alberg, a founding partner of Madrona Venture Group. “They will attract people, those people will do interesting work and then they will go do their own thing. Overall, it is extremely positive that Google is here.”

For years, Alberg said, economic development officials talked about ways to attract corporate headquarters or manufacturing plants to the region. But what has really proved successful for the region is building “intellectual centres” around companies like Google, RealNetworks and Amazon.com.