Google Visitor Experience, the new visitor center of the tech giant Google, opened at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, on October 12th, 2023.

It is located in Google’s newly constructed campus building called the Google Gradient Canopy campus.

Google Visitor Experience offers six distinct experiences: the Google Store, the Cafe @ Mountain View, the Huddle, the Pop-Up Shop, the Plaza, and public art.

The Google Store is a space where visitors can shop Google merchandise and explore Google’s technology and products, including cell phones, tablets, watches, earbuds, speakers, and more.

This marks the third Google Store globally, with the first two being the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York, and the Google Store Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, both located in New York City.

The merchandise includes clothing, stationery, and unique items that represent or relate to Google.

Additionally, there is merchandise related to Google subsidiaries such as YouTube and Android.

Some items feature the Dinosaur Game, a famous easter egg feature of Google’s Chrome browser.

Visitors can also try and test Google’s new products, such as the Google Pixel 8 Series, Google Pixel Fold, Google Pixel Tablet, Fitbit, Google Pixel Watch, and Google Pixel Buds.

It serves as a platform for Google to promote new product features, like the Magic Eraser in the Camera app, allowing users to erase specific unwanted parts without affecting the entire image.

The store also offers online ordering with in-person pickup.

Next to the Google Store is the Cafe @ Mountain View, serving foods and drinks.

There are both outdoor and indoor spaces for visitors to enjoy their orders.

The Cafe @ Mountain View is connected to the Huddle, an open-space lounge-style area accommodating up to 183 people, fostering interactions.

While generally open to the public, the Huddle can also be booked by local community groups and nonprofit organizations.

The Huddle is connected to the Pop-Up Shop, a retail space for goods made by local businesses, supporting local makers and small businesses.

On the exterior of the building, there are the Plaza and public art.

The Plaza is an outdoor space which offers visitors unique experiences, including several public artworks.

These artworks are created by local artists participating in Google’s artist-in-residence program, initiated in 2014, supporting artists experimenting with emerging technology.

Some notable public artworks in the Plaza include the Orb, a sphere-shaped structure with technologically created holes, Halo, a structure involving different colors, and Quantum Meditation II, a sculpture of a meditating woman.

Also, there are bicycles painted in Google’s symbolic colors that visitors can ride around the Google headquarters.

Google Visitor Experience is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Yujun Lee 

Grade 10

Homestead High School