Google has been the talk for the past several weeks after the first of these initial mystery barges was sited in San Francisco Bay. All we knew was that the barges were owned by Google. Well, we all know what that means. Let the speculation begin! And speculate we did… What was Google planning? What were they building? Why keep it so secret?

Well, last week Google released a statement dousing all of our wild theories. Or did they? Google offered this statement: “A floating data center? A wild party boat? A barge housing the last remaining dinosaur? Sadly, none of the above. Although it’s still early days and things may change, we’re exploring using the barge as an interactive space where people can learn about new technology.” Let the mystery continue.

Basically, the barges are an interactive space where people can learn about new technology… unless they decide to change it so that it has some other purpose entirely. We’re on the edge of our seats and still scratching our heads to find out exactly what it is that Google will end up with as the final product. Here’s one thing we do know –people are already eager to see for themselves. The barges are expected to draw more than 1000 people per day. 

How has Google managed to stay so tight lipped about the project? Well, they’re being constructed on docked barges instead of land. City building permits and public plans are not mandatory. We do now know, from documents released under the Freedom of Information Act, that the barges are expected to take unique shapes. As if they don’t already stand out enough, the four story tall 13,300 sq ft structures are sure to draw attention. We’ll definitely know where to look. The barge in San Francisco Bay is expected to be designed with sails shaped like fish fins. We’ll see if the barge in Portland follows suit.
Some speculate that the one of the main reasons Google is building these structures on water is so that they can simply float away from certain rules and regulations. What would they be developing that would call for that?

What do all of you think? With all the speculation around these mystery barges, is it possible that Google gave us the right info straight from the get go? Or do you think something else is happening that they’re not ready to share with the rest of us? And what about you? Will you be trekking to one of these cutting edge properties when construction is complete? 

We’ll be following along with Google’s plans and progress. Be sure to check back for updates!