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Photos: Sydney Googleplex Under Construction

ZDNet.com.au takes you on a tour of Google's new Sydney Googleplex, which is currently under construction. Australian Googlers will work in an environmentally friendly building, next to glamorous Sydney Harbour, with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Tower, and the Star City Casino.
By Renai LeMay, Contributor
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The five-storey building, reported to cost $50 million to build, is slated to be finished between late 2008 and early 2009.

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Google has leased floors four through six of the building, with global IT services giant Accenture taking the remainder, levels two and three.

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The facility, named Workplace6, is a joint venture between site owners GPT and builder Citta Property Group. It will be the first building in the Australian state of New South Wales to be given a six-star environmental rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.

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Famous Australian landmark Sydney Tower can be seen in the background.

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The site is well-protected during all hours.

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The new Sydney Googleplex is situated next to an open field where sports can be played during lunchtime, or workers can sit in the sun next to the waters of Sydney Harbour.

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Construction workers taking a break.

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Iconic landmark Sydney Harbour Bridge can be seen off in the distance across the water.

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A close-up of the Sydney Harbour Bridge view from the new Sydney Googleplex.

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Neighbours ... large Australian publishing company Fairfax Media moved in next door not too long ago.

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Across the street more neighbours ... television broadcaster, the Seven Network.

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To achieve the 6 Star Green rating, the building's owners used a number of features such as natural light via an atrium, solar devices, windows that can be opened for natural ventilation, chilled beam cooling, cooling towers, and grey and black water recycling. In addition, the building will use 25 per cent green electricity.

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Late nights ... Sydney's famous Star City Casino is right across the road.

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Sydney's glamorous harbour is literally a couple of metres away from the new Sydney Googleplex.

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Yachting facilities are right next door.

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The inside of the building is not yet complete, although Google is scheduled to take over its floors from October 2008. All in all the building can house up to 1,200 workers as well as retail spaces and eateries.

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Showers and change rooms will be provided for staff, along with 135 secure car spaces and 120 bicycle racks.

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Darling Harbour restaurants, bars and Sydney's CBD are all just 10 minutes' walk away.

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Google's approximately 200 staff are likely to move in later this year, with plenty of room for the fast-growing Australian subsidiary of the global search giant to expand.

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