Binocular Building

You’ve seen the binoculars… Google Venice HQ. If you have ever been inside, its awesome! Free food, micro kitchens everywhere, their own Googlebucks (starbucks type), video games, pool table. What else can I say, you can sleep, train, shower, and go back to work. sick place!

Dear Google, would you please move out of Venice. My local friends are having to leave after many years because you’ve driven up our rents. The new abby Kinney stores that to appeal to your nouveau riche tech crowd are ruining our locally owned mom and pop stores. Locals are really suffering now that you’re here. I have been here for 17 and because of you my landlord wants to take my home away, make a few adjustments and rent it to one of your tech employees or competitors for 6 times the rent. You keep buying more land. We know you’re cool with all your hipster employee policies and I know they’re actually pretty awesome for people the people who work for you, but for those of us who don’t, we want our cool, poor, beach, artist, surf town back. You’re pushing us out. I think Google is awesome, but it’s not for everyone, and it’s certainly is screwing up the lives of locals.
We’re not all screw ups and junkies. We’re artists, actors, painters, surfers and poets. Venice is all we had. Please give it back.
Sincerely,
Jessica Lynn

Honestly, I don’t know/​care who owns this building, but I do know it’s designed by Gehry. That alone justifies a visit.
It’s quite remarkable in person, and blends in perfectly with the area. Blended so well that it took a good 10 minutes to find once we got to the intersection of Rose and Main! Hint: it’s just south of Rose on Main.
The Norton House is nearby, so be sure to visit that too.

So this building is really an APPLE INC building. Why do I say that? Okay, well the previous tenant here was an advertising company called Chay Day. (mis-​spell?) and they were the company Steve Jobs used for his apple products.
The building was design by local, Frank Gehry. You’ll find several building throughout Venice designed by him. They are all cool and you can see.
I’m a fan of this building. Google I’m still not decided on? Ha…

Wonderful healthy food! The desserts are excellent, and the nerd vibe, unbeatable. A must-​see for anyone with a friend at Google.

The Binocular Building is Google’s Venice headquarters. My boyfriend became a Google Glass Explorer and had the option to either have them ship him the Glass or go pick it up. He opted to pick up.
You must either work here or be on the list to get in here. If you are visiting for something, you can drive your car through the center of the binoculars into an underground parking garage. We didn’t realize that at first so we drove by and circled around and came back. When you pull in there is a gate and a security guard will ask your name, open the gate for you, and you will drive down to their free valet parking.
While this building looks small from the outside, it is actually quite massive. We did not take a full tour, but what we did see was so cool! The man who was our guide said that Google takes up the entire city block, and I believe it. Their headquarters are so awesome, I wish I worked there!
If you even have an opportunity to visit this building, I highly recommend you do! We were here about an hour drinking beers and mimosas, having our guide go over Glass in massive detail. Everybody who works here seemed to be so friendly and happy. I would be too if I worked somewhere so cool!
Check it out if you can :)

Who wouldn’t love a tour of Google’s Venice HQ. It’s the kind of thing you have to know someone to get, and fortunately I did know someone. You can’t help but wonder how anyone gets anything done there with all of the fantastic amenities including: full service cafeteria, convenience store type snack bars throughout the campus, 24 hour gym, game rooms, bouldering wall, basketball court, rooftop decks, lounges, open spaces, and more! I think my favorite part was the Google Earth simulator, essentially an immersive 360 degree view of Google Earth searchable by keyword and address! Not to mention it’s in a historic Frank Geary building that looks like a pair of binoculars just a few short blocks from the beach. Wouldn’t it be cool if the binoculars were functional?
What a place to work it must be…

This is the best place in the world! I want to go back to school so I can work here :)

Like Disneyland for adults!
One of the many offices for the top search engine in the world… Google!
Isn’t it funny that Google owns the binoculars building? Binoculars are used when you are typically searching/​looking for something… as is Google :)
You must have ties to a Googler to gain inside access (or marry one, in my case!), but oh is it a sweet, sweet treat once you’re in!
I believe they own the entire block, and I still haven’t had the chance to see everything. Just a few cool specs: every room has its own theme (Big Lebowski, Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood, etc), they have a gym, garden, lime trees, lawn with a giant projector screen, a rooftop lounge, the bathrooms have everything you could possibly need (floss, lotion, deodorant, etc, even a Tide pen!), a big open cafeteria with plenty of chefs (they even have highchairs for family days!), snack/​drink bars around every corner, and lounges galore!
Hands down, best company to work for in the world!
I get so excited when we get to visit the Google office, let the binoculars guide you…

I have clue what function building actually serves, but it is pretty darn cool too spot when you’re just strolling by! And if you’re not expecting it, like me and my friend, you may miss it!

Apparently this is a landmark and I never knew this until now. Architecturally, really cool! You can actually enter through the bottom middle. This became a Google building so unless you know someone or have reason to be there, you’ll not be able to get in. Luckily, I have access, lol. Although the building inside really has nothing to with the binoculars themself.
In any case, the building is cool to look at while driving by!

«Do you get a kick out of tellin’ brothers no?!» Sorry, was listening to Positive K while writing this review. «If your man don’t treat you like he used to, I kick in like a turbo booster!» HAHAHAHA! Damn…
So you’re driving on Main street and BAM! What the heezy is that?! A binocular?! Yup a big ass binocular as the main entrance to a brick building. Now you’re like, yup something is definitely going on inside there. And what that is just so happens to be that thing you use to search on when using the internet. As George Bush would say «the internets».
Feeling Lucky? I sure am when you get to walk into Google Headquarters in Venice. It’s pretty sick in there from the work stations in an open environment, the outdoor movie area, the roof top patio, the gymnasium, the coffee bar, the game room, the inside of the actual binocular, the amazing cafeteria, the Eames room and so much more…
So for those who didn’t know, now you know. Good luck trying to get in there for a visit, you definitely need to know someone and I’d suggest going between 11:45 — 1:30, ahem — it’s lunch time!
HOLLA!

This has been on a list that my friend and I wrote up and have spent the last month of weekends visiting.
For this roadside Americana pilgrim, I can tell you visiting the Binocular Building was no religious experience. Parking in the area, not to mention the majority of people’s driving, is horrendous and it’s tough to get a good look while driving by it on Main.
Ended up going down South Main where we were able to have a moment of pause and snap a picture (
) before someone turned down the street.
I hate to act jaded and unimpressed, especially when it comes to feats of architecture, but once you see it, you’re done. I felt like I’d driven into a hurricane to see a giant doughnut sign, but without the promise of lard and sugar.
The confused, cross-​dressing clown on top of the CVS, not a block away, was more worth the drive and hassle with traffic and jaywalkers with a death wish.

******#142 of 365 things to do in L.A. (
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Frank Gehry’s colossal black Binocular Building on Main Street in Venice oddly blends into the surroundings — so much so that I drove past this building many times without even noticing it!
It is huge, and cars can drive through the binoculars into a garage. I read somewhere that this building used to be an advertising agency. I have no idea what it is now though.
Venice, true to character, has a lot of unique structures. Across the street on the corner of Rose and Main is the famous clown ballet dancer.
Check out 365 L.A. for pics

When I first came to LA, almost 10 years ago, I landed on Venice Beach. I’d never been to LA before I got off a plane with 3 suitcases, with the intention of staying. Needless to say, I love a good adventure.
And Venice Beach certainly did provide me with just that. I lived a few doors from the Boardwalk for a couple of years.
On my first day out, the night after I arrived, I went looking for food. I walked a couple blocks inland and discovered the Clown Building and the Binocular Building.
I wondered where the hell I was… had I entered the Twilight Zone? or was the circus in town? or both???
Holy crap, there was nothing like this back on the South Side of Chicago…
Little did I know that these landmarks would be among the tamest discoveries I would encounter on Venice Beach. But that’s a whole ‘nother story.
About the Binocular Building:
Leave it to Frank Gehry, what a great mind. It was originally called the Chiat/​Day Building, after the original tenants. Construction began in 1985 and dragged on for several years due to some sitch with toxic contamination on the site.
If the giant binocs remind you of a Claes Oldenburg sculpture, that’s because Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen helped with the design.
Remarkably, the binoculars provide the entrance to the building’s parking garage! I always wanted to drive into those binoculars and someday I will, haha. Hopefully it will be planned…