Silicon Valley Reinvestment #1

An aging office complex is repositioned as a destination workplace.

A 1980s-era mixed used complex in northern San Jose was redesigned as an amenity-rich, flexible workplace experience that promotes community and supports the overall health and wellness of tenants.

The original complex featured three identical seven-story towers interconnected by a linear two-story building, with 422,970 square feet of office space. The design preserves the “good bones” of the complex, while expanding the leasable space, activating outdoor spaces and transforming the homogeneous complex into a family of properties. Ground-level retail and restaurant spaces were removed and replaced by a fitness center, indoor-outdoor conference center and tenant lounge. The three lobbies were each given their own distinct character, complemented by color-coded wayfinding tools.

The new campus center is anchored by a ground floor space known as “The Hub.” To create the center, the tower base was squared off with a new glass-encased façade, which expands the building’s footprint and creates curb appeal. The space is connected to the campus via a prominent glass-enclosed reception area; inside The Hub includes flexible workspaces, including an adjacent sundeck and greenspace with amphitheater seating.

LPA’s integrated team — including architects, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, and lighting and furniture specialists — created a collection of complementary indoor and outdoor areas. The existing under-utilized parking lots were shrunken and converted into much-needed pedestrian space, increasing the amount of usable outdoor space by more than five times. In addition to shaded outdoor work and lounge areas, the design created new greenspace for breakouts and casual gatherings. The east and west arrival areas, on either side of The Hub, feature dedicated rideshare drop off points and food truck parking, connected by walkways from the promenade.

Regenerative design played an integral role in the design of the new complex. A rooftop photovoltaic system — which generates about 400,000 kWh of electricity per year, offsetting 10% of the complex’s current usage — was designed to sit atop an existing trellis structure on the roof of the two-story building.

Inside, LPA’s integrated design team devised a set of low-impact lighting solutions with an overall lighting power density of 0.55 W/sf, which represents a 45% reduction compared to the AIA 2030 Commitment’s baseline for interior projects. Outside, reclaimed water is used for the expanded landscaping program, while additional bicycle racks and charging stations support San Jose’s strong infrastructure for alternate transit modes.