DZone
Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile
  • Manage Email Subscriptions
  • How to Post to DZone
  • Article Submission Guidelines
Sign Out View Profile
  • Post an Article
  • Manage My Drafts
Over 2 million developers have joined DZone.
Log In / Join
Refcards Trend Reports Events Over 2 million developers have joined DZone. Join Today! Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile Manage Email Subscriptions Moderation Admin Console How to Post to DZone Article Submission Guidelines
View Profile
Sign Out
Refcards
Trend Reports
Events
Zones
Culture and Methodologies Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks
Partner Zones AWS Cloud
by AWS Developer Relations
Culture and Methodologies
Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering
AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture
Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding
Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance
Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks
Partner Zones
AWS Cloud
by AWS Developer Relations

Trending

  • Integration Testing Tutorial: A Comprehensive Guide With Examples And Best Practices
  • Integration Architecture Guiding Principles, A Reference
  • Fun Is the Glue That Makes Everything Stick, Also the OCP
  • Does the OCP Exam Still Make Sense?

A Visit to Facebook Headquarters: Part I

Follow along with Rob Sanders as he takes his first tour of Facebook's impressive headquarters!

Rob Sanders user avatar by
Rob Sanders
·
Jul. 12, 16 · Opinion
Like (2)
Save
Tweet
Share
2.27K Views

Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.

Join For Free

Continuing on from my seminal visit to Google and the Computer History Museum yesterday, my tour of Silicon Valley today has taken me to the headquarters of yet another Internet behemoth, Facebook.

Facebook is located at Menlo Park, a bit further north from Mountain View, not far south of San Francisco.  Facebook buildings are split into several different precincts, the main feature being the brand new Facebook HQ which was opened in April last year.  The “classic” (formerly Sun Microsystems HQ) compound remains heavy utilized on the opposite side of the freeway.

image
Aerial View (unfortunately out of date) courtesy Google Maps
IMG_3156
On-site map

Our visit this morning began with us parking under the huge new building complex and entering at Lobby 4.  At ground level, there’s not much to see and it’s all about business, with a bank of iPads used for signing in purposes. 

Once registered in the system, it was a brisk walk upstairs to a second lobby where we waited for our escort. The building is unmistakably industrial-themed but splashed with an array of differentiating features such as lines of extreme colour and graffiti style comments on the beams and walls.

IMG_3060 IMG_3061 IMG_3115

Heading inside, the first thing we encountered was the incredibly impressive scale model of the building. It runs the length of a massive table and contains an amazing amount of detail.  It helpfully illustrated the sheer immense size of the structure, although we really did not truly appreciate the mastery of the design until later on.

IMG_3063IMG_3064IMG_3066

One thing which is impossible to ignore straight away is just how huge the building is. Stripped of the traditional finishing most office complexes have, the ceiling towers above everyone which creates an amazing sense of space. The entire building is essentially one long huge open planned office, although it is clear from the number of strategically positioned portable whiteboards, not everyone’s so keen on the foot traffic and noise of passers by.

IMG_3067 IMG_3070

We walked south for a fair while, passing many differently sized work areas and meeting rooms.  There is a touch of individuality throughout from the distinctive fonts adorning the sides of enclaves, to the creatively named meeting rooms – examples of which are ‘A Clockwork Orange is the New Black’, ‘Gerald Fortran’, ‘Modern Family Guy’, ‘Back to the Futurama’ and more.

IMG_3071IMG_3073

There was even a device kiosk which could be used to test out a range of software and a Facebook vending machine, supplying staff with an array of IT accessories to help when in need (e.g. batteries, phone batteries, charging cables etc.). 

Our first stop was breakfast. Facebook, as you’d expect for Silicon Valley, caters to staff by providing a substantial cafeteria (“Full Circle”) fully stocked with food options.  The spacious area easily would accommodate most of the staff working in the building, with room to spare for transients, such as myself.

IMG_3076

We opted for an outside table, to take in the view and enjoy the beautiful sunny Californian weather. After a robust breakfast conversation, we bussed out trays and then ascended to the roof of the building.

Here’s where the jaw-dropping aspect kicks in. 

The entire surface of the roof of the building has been utilized, and it’s amazing.  The roof has been designed to withstand the weight of gravel, dirt and sand as well as a large array of trees, shrubs and an entire green lawn.  It is an engineering feat which I’ve never seen before, and it runs the entire length of the building.

IMG_3084IMG_3097IMG_3082IMG_3109

Unfortunately, the photos do not do justice to the grandness of this design. Facebook has created a sort of Garden of Eden above Facebook HQ and it is astoundingly impressive. There are deck chairs and lounges strewn around for people to enjoy, and it even features a juice bar so people can quench their thirst while admiring the far reaching views across the bay and mountains.

IMG_3113IMG_3117

After further discussions whilst admiring the views and enjoying freshly blended juice (themed appropriately for Independence Day) we descended down to ground level and waited for the Gold Tram to arrive and whisk us off to the “classic” buildings across the freeway.

facebook

Published at DZone with permission of Rob Sanders, DZone MVB. See the original article here.

Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.

Trending

  • Integration Testing Tutorial: A Comprehensive Guide With Examples And Best Practices
  • Integration Architecture Guiding Principles, A Reference
  • Fun Is the Glue That Makes Everything Stick, Also the OCP
  • Does the OCP Exam Still Make Sense?

Comments

Partner Resources

X

ABOUT US

  • About DZone
  • Send feedback
  • Careers
  • Sitemap

ADVERTISE

  • Advertise with DZone

CONTRIBUTE ON DZONE

  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • Become a Contributor
  • Visit the Writers' Zone

LEGAL

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

  • 600 Park Offices Drive
  • Suite 300
  • Durham, NC 27709
  • support@dzone.com

Let's be friends: