[notatoad]

not only does it seem strange to make a marketing center on a barge, but it's absolutely huge. at a conservative rough count, it's about 8 8-foot-wide shipping containers wide, and about 6 20-foot-long shipping containers long. and four storeys high. that's 30000 square feet. for a showroom.

[lnanek2]

I agree, data center seems more likely, but there are strong hints already that Google Glass sales will need extra space. Google has been having fitting events so far with large areas of buildings dedicated to it and they are only servicing small batches of testers and conference goers so far. You can Google the Google Glass pickup experience and see pictures of the Chelsea office area and MV area, etc., people bragging about the champagne, ice cream, valet parking, etc..

As someone who has worked for smartphone OEMs, it is entirely possible a reduced return rate would be worth having extensive pickup experience options like this. Return rate was a huge consideration. If you have a high return rate, carriers won't even carry your device in their stores. Similarly, Samsung is having a big issue with Galaxy Gear watch returns right now.

[mikeyouse]

Just for a frame of reference, the Grand Central Terminal Apple store is 23,000 square-feet. Their proposed store in Union Square (SF) will occupy about 25,000 square-feet, with two levels and 1/3 of the building "behind the scenes", call 30,000 square feet total.

Not unheard of.

[rz2k]

It might make more sense if compared to the size of the Exploratorium rather than something like a showroom, and the visible, water location could be important if people are otherwise likely to ignore a large warehouse showcasing a technology which they think is a waste of time to even think about.