Facebook Plans Green Roof for New HQ

Artist Frank Gehry, one of the world's most prominent architects and designer of the newly-approved Facebook building, is known for designing iconic modernist buildings like the Guggenheim Museum in Spain (pictured). His recent work includes one of the world's largest green roofs, at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.

Facebook has the green light from Menlo Park's city council to build a huge second campus that connects to its headquarters in Silicon Valley. The social media titan says its new 433,555-square-foot building will blend into the landscape, thanks to an extensive green roof that covers most of the very long building.

The design for the white stucco building, created by award-winning architect Frank Gehry, will be mostly hidden by landscaping and a green roof. The building will be 45 feet tall and rise to 73 feet in some areas, and its length will take up most of the square footage. The new west campus will be built on 22 acres and house 2,800 new employees. Further sustainable features, such as LEED certification or a reliance on green energy, have not yet been announced.

"Our intent is that it almost becomes like a hillside, with the landscape really taking the forefront," Craig Webb, a design partner, told the Mercury News.

The massive green roof will feel more like a park, structurally strong and deep enough to support oak trees, and long enough for a walking trail. Employees will be able to walk between east and west campuses through a biking and walking tunnel.

Menlo Park requires new construction to comply with its water-efficient landscape ordinance, which doesn't allow lawns bigger than 500 square feet. At least 80 percent of plantings must be native or xeriscape plants.

Facebook hopes to break ground in the next few months.