Google Office - Breithaupt Block

Google Offices – Breithaupt Block is located at the corner of Breithaupt Street and King Street in Downtown Kitchener, within the city’s growing Innovation District. Originally constructed in 1955 as the Merchant Rubber Company building, the modernist structure stood as an industrial landmark before being reimagined as contemporary office space.

As General Contractor, Zehr Group played a key role in the building’s transformation, leading the redevelopment that carefully stripped back the original façade to integrate new glass and steel construction. The project also included the addition of three new floors, expanding the building to approximately 102,000 square feet of office space and establishing it as Google Canada’s Kitchener headquarters.

The redevelopment balanced preservation with modern performance, incorporating sustainable design strategies aimed at achieving LEED Gold Certification. Features such as high-performance glazing, a rooftop garden, and high-efficiency mechanical systems contribute to an energy-efficient workplace while supporting the continued revitalization of Downtown Kitchener’s Innovation District.