Inside Google’s new campus east of Seattle | Amazon invests in Oregon robotics startup

Inside Google’s new campus east of Seattle: The tech giant is doubling down on a return to offices with the opening of the first phase of Kirkland Urban, a mixed-use development in Kirkland Wash., where Google will eventually have four buildings and 760,000 square feet of space. As companies try to lure workers back from two years of remote work, Google is dangling all the usual tech office amenities and then some. GeekWire got an inside look.

Tech connection in president’s Seattle stop: As President Biden breezed into Seattle, he made a stop at a private fundraiser hosted by Microsoft President Brad Smith. Read more. 

Amazon invests in Oregon robotics startup: Agility Robotics, one of the first recipients of Amazon’s new $1 billion industrial venture fund, is building robots that work alongside people in warehouses and just raised a $150 million round. 

More logistics startup funding: 

• Seattle startup Flexe, which helps retailers purchase on-demand warehousing space, is raising more cash.

• Convoy, the Seattle-based digital freight marketplace, raised $260 million at a $3.8 billion valuation.

Last call for GeekWire Awards voting: More than 15,000 votes have already been cast for the GeekWire Awards, but there’s still time to get that ballot submitted. Vote here. 

Custom machines built from proteins: Scientists at the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design are going big with tiny, custom rotors made out of proteins. Read more.