Meta’s new Gurugram office blends global and local culture, augments creativity, incorporates pop-culture, and showcases the way technology can act as a bridge for economic development, while keeping safety and sustainability at the forefront
Meta (formerly Facebook) has unveiled its new office in Gurugram. Spanning 130,000 sqft across 6 floors, the office is its first stand-alone office facility in Asia. The headquarters’ open floor plan and unfinished look inspires collaboration, while the exposed concrete pillars and wires on the roof reflect its start-up roots. In fact, Meta offices world over are designed to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.
The new name ‘Meta’ represents the company’s vision for the future of the internet, which is the ‘metaverse’ - a place where the physical and the digital worlds converge – one that will be more immersive and engaging, creating a shared sense of space.
Designed with modern, minimalist, and functional furniture, the workspaces augment creativity with pop-culture. Bright red, deep blue and mustard tapestry add a burst of colour. An events center and a full production studio equipped with a green room, are avenues for creation and collaboration. The wall culture within the office encourages everyone to scribble their ideas on whiteboards or share ‘What’s on your mind?’ on walls seen all over the office. Elements of quirky local and pop-culture are introduced with meeting room names such as ‘Chellam Sir Will Know’, ‘Felt Cute (Might Delete Later)’ and ‘When Is The Next Long Weekend?’.
For the Gurugram office, the aim was to have art that reflects India’s cultural and ideological diversity which is shifting towards a new identity. Indian artists Pratap Morey, Rohini Devasher, and Sameer Kulavoor worked with this brief and shared their interpretation of it. The enormity of their art pieces captures the imagination of viewers, as Rohini’s artwork spans over 65 feet, and Pratap’s artwork spans six floors of the building. Their work captures the future with a broad view of urbanisation and globalisation in an attempt to invite new ways to think about ourselves and the world at large.
A dedicated space titled ‘Centre for Fuelling India’s New Economy’ highlights the way ‘Digital India’ is shaping up, and the role Meta and its platforms are playing in that journey. A dedicated area demonstrates how new technologies like AR and VR will transform some of the key sectors such as learning and education, commerce, and healthcare in the future.
Considering the pandemic, the office includes touchless experiences in the cafeteria and washroom facilities, touchless sanitization stations, and temperature checks. The building is also LEED Platinum Certified.
Comments Ajit Mohan, Vice-President & Managing Director, Facebook India (Meta), "We see this office as an opportunity to build a space that will house our largest team in the country. The office will be open to anyone who is driving change - be it creators, small business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, or community leaders – and will see the efforts from Meta to fuel their pursuits, ideas, and ambition. That is why we are embracing the ambitious goal of training 2 crore small businesses and 250,000 creators. We see this office as a reaffirmation of our commitment to the country, which is rapidly transforming, and where technology will play an enabling role in enhancing the lives of future generations."
