Planners OK Gehry's Facebook Campus

Frank Gehry's design for Facebook's Silicon Valley headquarters is a single, warehouse-style space in a building totalling just over 433,000 square feet. The long building would sit on 22 acres in Menlo Park that is currently occupied by 175 trees. Removal of these trees, rezoning of the site, and renaming a conjoined road Facebook Way would all occur in exchange for $4.5 million to the city for affordable housing, the equivalent of 15 units. The building would be served by close to 1,500 parking spaces but only 90 bike parking spots. Regardless of any drawbacks, the city's Planning Commission unanimously approved the plan. The Menlo Park City Council has the final vote on the project, which is expected to happen in March.