New Haven=based The Pickard Chilton architecture firm has been picked to design 325 Main St. in the Boston area's Kendall Square tech hub. Image courtesy of Pickard Chilton.

New Haven’s Pickard Chilton architecture firm has been selected by developer Boston Properties to design a 16-story, 417,000-square-foot office tower for Google in the Boston area.

Pickard Chilton’s latest project will serve as Google’s new headquarters in the heart of Kendall Square, the booming tech hub in Cambridge, across the Charles River from downtown Boston. The technology giant has been retained as a major tenant at the property, signing a 15-year lease for 362,000 square feet as additional office space for its growing Cambridge office.

Boston Properties’ new development at 325 Main St. is replacing an existing four-story commercial office and retail building at the site, formerly known as 3 Cambridge Center. The new building comprises approximately 375,000 square feet of new office space and 42,000 square feet of retail at the lower levels. Construction of 325 Main St. is expected to begin later this year with completion expected in 2022.

“We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Boston Properties with this exciting new project in Cambridge, and design a dynamic, next-generation work environment where future tenants, such as Google, can grow their businesses,” Pickard Chilton Principal Anthony Markese said in a statement. “With its activated ground and second floor retail along Main Street and Kendall Plaza, 325 Main will greatly enhance the public realm in Kendall Square. The addition of a several new pedestrian connections and a multi-level public terrace will further open the space between adjacent buildings and public areas.”

The firm is hoping to achieve LEED-NC Gold certification for the tower. The tower is Pickard Chilton’s second project with Boston Properties in the Kendall Square neighborhood; the firm designed 145 Broadway, a 19-story, 454,000-square-foot office building for Akamai opening in late 2019.