EMPLOYEES AT Google’s European headquarters in Dublin could soon be able to add an onsite swimming pool to their list of office perks.
The internet search giant says it intends to apply to Dublin City Council for permission to build the pool and gym in the Montevetro building on Barrow Street, which it bought for just under €100 million.
The 15-storey block was built by Treasury Holdings, but sold by the National Asset Management Agency for €99.9 million after it acquired responsibility for bank loans held by the Dublin development company.
At 67m (220ft), the Montevetro is the tallest office building in the city and was intended to serve as a dramatic landmark at one of the entrances to Dublin’s docklands. Construction of the building started in March 2008 and was completed last January, but finance for the project had been controlled by Nama since April last year.
The building was constructed with three basement levels, which included parking for up 80 cars. While details of the application for planning permission for the pool, likely to be made to the council by the end of this week, are not yet available it is understood that it would occupy some of this space.
Google, which employs more than 2,000 people in the docklands area, has been operating from Ireland since 2003.
An onsite swimming pool, if approved by Dublin City Council planners, would be the latest leisure facility on offer to staff, who already have access to a gym and several pool tables, table tennis, table football, Scalextric and video-game consoles. Employees may also avail of a weekly relaxation massage.
While the company has no active policy against unions it is understood that most of its Dublin workers are not members of a union.
The company had been renting its two office buildings, also on Barrow Street, but bought them last March just two weeks after the Montevetro sale went through. It paid just over €100 million for the office blocks, Gordon House and Gasworks House, adjoining buildings on Barrow Street which were developed by Liam Carroll. His business subsequently collapsed, leaving him owing the banks some €1.2 billion.
Some Google staff have already moved into the Montevetro property, which is on the opposite side of the road to Gordon House and Gasworks House. The company says it is still planning the final “fit-out”, which it will use to support future growth in Dublin.
