When Google opened its newest “campus” in Silicon Valley in 2022, the company touted the building’s space-age design and high-tech features such as a roof made entirely of solar panels.
But office workers have more mundane complaints. The internet giant’s girlfriend’s WiFi isn’t working.
Employees who spoke to Reuters had been complaining for months that their laptops couldn’t connect to WiFi.
Some staff have suggested the problem is related to the building’s undulating roof. The roof consists of 90,000 silver solar panels in a “dragon scale” design, which may be responsible for capturing radio signals.
Employees can connect to a wired internet connection at desks on the ground floor, which are designed for “concentrated work.” But when she brings her laptop to her first floor office, where comfortable chairs are set up for meetings and “collaboration,” she discovers that many people do not have access to wireless internet.
Google provided some staff with laptops with stronger Wi-Fi receivers, while encouraging others to sit outside the office cafe, where the connection was stronger. Rather than relying on company Wi-Fi, some companies have started using their cell phones’ mobile signals as hotspots.
Some employees say unreliable internet reception is jeopardizing Google’s efforts to bring employees back to the office three days a week.
“Bayview is experiencing WiFi connectivity issues,” a Google spokesperson told Reuters.
He added that the company has made several improvements to address this issue.
Google’s Bayview campus, located near its headquarters, is the first it built from scratch, the company said. It is powered by 90% solar and wind energy at all times and is designed to ensure that all employees have views from their windows.
It was designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studio, run by British designer Thomas Heatherwick.
The company employs approximately 4,000 staff, including those working on the latest artificial intelligence systems.
