Office 2.0: Refreshing Silicon Valley

The economic engine that is Silicon Valley appears to be picking up steam again.

Unemployment rates are decreasing and companies are expanding and looking for new opportunities for office space. Facebook moved into the old Sun headquarters in Menlo Park and Salesforce abandoned plans for a new campus in Mission Bay partly because they couldn’t afford to wait for the complex to be constructed. In addition, demand for office space near internet giants like Google and Facebook have catapulted lease rates in neighboring communities. Property owners are now working to capitalize on this demand by refreshing existing vacant office space to attract new tenants.

Callander Associates has been working closely with aai architecture + interior design to re-imagine properties throughout Silicon Valley. Having sat vacant for years, these properties generally share similar characteristics that limit their appeal to new tenants such as poor visibility, lack of identity, and limited exterior courtyard spaces. Strategies have included selective tree removals to open up view corridors, gateway signage programs, reconfigured building entryways, and more flexible courtyard spaces to provide opportunities for work and play.

Our adaptable design approach to these projects allows us to craft scopes and fees to meet our client demands. Occasionally, a simple concept plan and inspiration images are all that are necessary for the broker to sell to potential tenants. Once a new lease is signed, CALA will facilitate the project through the City review process, develop construction documents, and see it through to implementation. We’re excited to be bringing new life to these properties and ensuring that they reflect the same creativity and knack for (re)invention that is synonymous with Silicon Valley.

October 4, 2012 at 6:19 pm