Palo Alto: VMware HQ Campus and the Birthplace of Silicon Valley
September 24th, 2009 | 
Author: Last night I drove over to Palo Alto, CA from San Jose. Thanks to the gracious efforts of my Softchoice VMware National Account team (Nancy and Mike, thanks again!) I had the privilege of an informal, after hours tour of VMware Head Quarters and spent some time enjoying a meal and great conversation on University Avenue: the social lifeline of Stanford University. Seeing VMware’s home on “the hill” was amazing and really brought a new perspective to the people and products I interact with on a daily basis.
Best described as an ergonomic setting, VMware HQ sprawls out across numerous buildings ( I wasn’t counting them!) all interconnected on multiple levels by various walkways and bridges. Walking down the center of the buildings you can’t help but notice beautiful and thriving vegetation. Highlights of the campus for me were a soccer field and gymnasium with what seemed like intramural games in progress on both. The gymnasium outer wall is actually a series of glass garage doors, and inside was where the stage for the vSphere launch event was positioned.
After leaving VMware I was taken to the HP Garage: a California Landmark marking where Hewlett and Packard are credited for starting Silicon Valley.
I was able to snap a few photos with my Blackberry camera. The gallery that follows also contains an image from Google Earth that provides an aerial view of VMware HQ (from 2007) that better shows the VMware campus layout.
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Kind of reminds me of when I got to go to Hopkinton, MA (EMC HQ). Every building for about a mile on both sides of the main boulevard belonged to EMC. It was like being back on a college campus.
Exactly the feeling I got. I suspect that the engineers' cubes would also be their dorms at times since they all probably put in some long days. Hence the gymnasium, cafeteria, etc. I also noticed scattered foosball and other games scattered about inside buildings. Take a break when you need it but just be there until it's done …
I spent the day at the campus on Monday before VMworld. I took in the guided tour and learned some interesting things as we walked from building to building. For instance, one of the buildings has an indoor atirum with a beautiful wooden floor that was built using the wood salvaged from Thomas Edison's barn. See http://blogs.vmware.com/vmtn/power_savings/ and search for Thomas Edison's name.
Jason,
I did not know about the floor made from Edison's barn! Was it the 3401 bldg atrium (same bldg as the briefing rooms)?
I don't remember which building it was in. I lost track in the maze of buildings.
Jason,
I was not told about the floor from Edison's barn! Wow. I think I saw the
atrium though. The 3401 bldg with the briefing centers?
==============================
Rich Brambley
rbrambley@gmail.com
check out my virtualization blog http://vmetc.com
==============================
Jason,
I was not told about the floor from Edison’s barn! Wow. I think I saw the
atrium though. The 3401 bldg with the briefing centers?
==============================
Rich Brambley
rbrambley@gmail.com
check out my virtualization blog http://vmetc.com
==============================
I spent the day at the campus on Monday before VMworld. I took in the guided tour and learned some interesting things as we walked from building to building. For instance, one of the buildings has an indoor atirum with a beautiful wooden floor that was built using the wood salvaged from Thomas Edison's barn. See http://blogs.vmware.com/vmtn/power_savings/ and search for Thomas Edison's name.
Jason,
I did not know about the floor made from Edison's barn! Was it the 3401 bldg atrium (same bldg as the briefing rooms)?
I don't remember which building it was in. I lost track in the maze of buildings.