The Assembly That Changed Everything

A Look at How Shane Coakley United Dozens of Parcels to Make Google’s Kirkland Headquarters Possible

When people talk about transformative real estate deals in the Pacific Northwest, they often mention the glamorous towers or billion-dollar developments that reshape skylines. But behind many of those projects is the far less visible craft of strategic land assembly, a discipline that requires foresight, negotiation skill, psychological insight, and persistence.

Few practice it at the level of Shane Coakley, Founder and President of Coakley International.

Among his many accomplishments across the region, one deal stands out for its vision, complexity, and lasting impact. It is the land assembly that enabled Google’s expansion of its headquarters in Kirkland.

What began with a zoning change and a cluster of aging residential homes evolved into one of the most consequential commercial transformations in Kirkland’s history. For Shane, it also became a defining chapter in his career.

A Zoning Shift Sparks Opportunity

The opportunity arose when a broker contacted Shane and his then-partner, Art Wilson, to alert them to a significant development. A zoning update had reclassified several houses in Kirkland as commercial property.

It was the kind of rare moment that only seasoned developers recognize immediately.

“We knew right then that there wasn’t much commercial in Kirkland,” Shane recalls. “And the demand for commercial was there.”

They got in the car, drove to the site, and began studying the neighborhood parcel by parcel.

One property stood out. It was a large, older home on valuable acreage, owned by an elderly man. Securing that parcel would give them leverage and unlock the rest of the assembly.

They tied it up. And with that, the chess game began.

The Stubborn Holdout and the Turning Point

As they negotiated the surrounding homes, one owner refused to sell under any circumstances.

Most developers would have backed off or redirected their time. Shane instead used strategy and patience.

“We played possum,” he says. “We acted like we were going to develop everything around his house and just leave him sitting there.”

The homeowner watched as more parcels entered contract. He watched the early planning work begin. He watched the activity surrounding his property increase.

Eventually, he asked if the price could be raised.

Shane agreed, and with that final signature, the entire assembly fell into place.

From Assembly to Vision: SRM Enters the Deal

With the unified land in hand, Shane and Art began massing studies and early planning work consistent with the new zoning. As they advanced discussions with the City of Kirkland, another broker approached them with a significant opportunity. The broker represented SRM Development, a highly respected commercial developer in Washington.

SRM ultimately built what stands there today: Google’s Kirkland headquarters, a major anchor of Google’s long-term investment in the Northwest.

An 18 Month Masterclass in Strategy

The whole assembly process took 18 months, an impressive timeline given the negotiations and due diligence required.

Shane uses the experience to highlight a powerful but often overlooked truth about development.

“There is a lot of money in just assembling land, taking it through the permitting process, or doing the massing study and selling it without building a doghouse. Less risk and tremendous upside.”

Successful assembly demands a deep understanding of zoning laws, jurisdictional differences, market demand, local politics, and seller psychology. At Google’s Kirkland campus, these elements aligned at the perfect moment for someone capable of reading the landscape.

The Deal That Redefined What Was Possible

Shane often describes the Google assembly as the moment that fundamentally changed his perspective on what he could accomplish.

“After that deal, the sky was the limit. There was no limit on what I could assemble or what I could build.”

It reinforced his belief in strategic timing. It sharpened his negotiation skills. It gave him a real time demonstration of the financial and developmental power of land assembly.

Above all, it taught him a timeless lesson.

Get ahead of the curve.

“Pay attention to zoning. Pay attention to where the growth is happening. If you can get ahead of everyone else, you win.”

A Legacy Built Parcel by Parcel

The Google Kirkland land assembly remains one of the most influential and strategically brilliant deals in Shane Coakley’s portfolio. It created lasting value not only for the eventual user but for the entire community that benefited from Google’s expansion.

It is a study in persistence. It is an example of vision meeting execution. For Shane, it stands as proof that real estate success is not just about buildings. It is about seeing what a place can become long before anyone else does.