Finance
Google names London office 'Platform 37' in a nod to railway neighbour, AI 'Go' match
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
Google has christened its upcoming London headquarters “Platform 37,” blending a nod to adjacent King’s Cross railway platforms with the historic “Move 37” by AlphaGo that marked a turning point in AI. The 330 m-long “landscraper,” designed by Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group, will house b
Google Names New London HQ 'Platform 37' in Reference to AI & King's Cross
Google's New Headquarters and Its AI Significance
Origins of the Name: Platform 37
LONDON, March 12 (Reuters) - Google has named its new London headquarters "Platform 37" in a nod to its neighbour, King's Cross railway station, and "Move 37" - a pivotal play made by DeepMind's AI system AlphaGo in a legendary match of the ancient boardgame Go against world champion Lee Sae Dol.
Google and DeepMind Teams Moving In
Teams from Google and Google DeepMind, the company's AI research laboratory, will begin to move into Platform 37 in the summer, Google said.
The Story Behind "Move 37"
AlphaGo's Unconventional Play
"Move 37", played by AlphaGo almost 10 years ago to the day, was so unconventional human experts initially thought it was a mistake, Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind Co-Founder and CEO, said in a blog post about the building's new name on Thursday.
Impact on the Game and AI Era
But as the game unfolded, it became clear it enabled AlphaGo to win.
"AlphaGo's victory heralded the beginning of what is now recognised as the modern era in AI," he said.
Design and Features of Platform 37
Architectural Highlights
The building, designed by Thomas Heatherwick and Bjarke Ingels, stretches 330 metres adjacent to the railway tracks leading to King's Cross. Dubbed a "landscraper", it is longer than London's 310-metre Shard skyscraper is tall.
Development Timeline
Platform 37, Google's first wholly owned and designed building outside the United States, has had a long gestation since it was announced in 2013, including delays in fit out.
Community Engagement and AI Education
The AI Exchange
Google said it would open "The AI Exchange", a community space where people can learn about AI, in the building later this year.
(Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Sarah Young)
Key Takeaways
- •The name “Platform 37” playfully connects King’s Cross station and AlphaGo’s famous Move 37 by DeepMind, commemorating roughly ten years since the match.
- •The building, a horizontally extensive “landscraper” stretching 330 m—longer than the Shard is tall—is Google’s first wholly owned and designed building outside the U.S., designed by Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group.
- •Occupying 11 storeys and accommodating thousands of staff, it includes amenities like rooftop gardens, running tracks, wellness spaces, and will open “The AI Exchange” for public AI engagement later this year.
Frequently Asked Questions about Google names London office 'Platform 37' in a nod to railway neighbour, AI 'Go' match
1Why did Google name its new London headquarters 'Platform 37'?
The name 'Platform 37' pays homage to King's Cross railway station and AlphaGo's pivotal 'Move 37' by Google DeepMind.
2What is 'Move 37' in the context of Google's new building?
Move 37 refers to a famous move by AlphaGo, Google DeepMind's AI, during a legendary board game Go match against a world champion.
3When will teams move into Google's 'Platform 37' headquarters?
Google and Google DeepMind teams are set to begin moving into Platform 37 in the summer.
4Who designed the 'Platform 37' building in London?
The Platform 37 building was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and Bjarke Ingels.
5What unique features does the 'Platform 37' building have?
Platform 37 stretches 330 metres and will feature 'The AI Exchange', a community space for learning about AI.
