CLIENTCity of Milpitas
SERVICESMaster Planning, New Construction, Interiors
LOCATIONMilpitas, CA
SIZE62,000 sq ft
STATUSCompleted 2002
ASSOCIATE ARCHITECTMichael Willis Architects
The city hall is a pivotal element in the evolution of Milpitas from a bedroom community to a full member of the Silicon Valley metropolis. We worked closely with the City to develop a design that captures the essential qualities of civic architecture—in massing, materials, plan organization and circulation.




Clearly defined outdoor public gathering spaces at the front and rear of the building lead to the large public lobby, clearly visible from the main elevations. A grand cylindrical form—the central hall that penetrates vertically through the building—unites the structure’s horizontal volumes. The great rotunda is a grand civic gesture that operates as a modern application of traditional typology; the rotunda also acts as a heat chimney, drawing warm air up and out of the structure.

“The sweeping, energized city hall proclaims Milpitas’ Silicon Valley character while maintaining the comfortable scale of a town that still feels small.”
Alan Hess, San Jose Mercury News

Awards and Press
- The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award — 2004
- A Burgeoning New City’s New Headquarters Radiates with Innovation — Architectural Record 2004
- AIA San Francisco Best of the Bay, Excellence in Design Award — 2003
- Milpitas City Hall Shows How It’s Done — San Jose Mercury News 2002
PHOTOGRAPHYTim Griffith
Awards
- ULI Washington Awards for Excellence, Finalist | MLK Gateway II
- Future of Work Awards, Jury’s Special Prize | Ledger HQ
- BIM d’Or, Tech Show Awards | Google AI Hub
- Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Awards, Office Renovation, Winner | Meta EMEA Headquarters
- Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Awards, Medium Tech Office: Finalists | WHOOP Headquarters
- ULI Europe Awards for Excellence : Winner | L’Atelier Covivio
- Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Awards, Finalist: Large Early Education | Raymond Elementary School
- AIA DC, Awards of Excellence in Architecture, Chapter Design Award: Winner | Raymond Elementary School
- ULI Washington Awards of Excellence, Excellence in Institutional Development: Winner | Raymond Elementary School
- ULI Washington Awards of Excellence: Finalists | Raymond Elementary School
- USGBC, US Local Market Leadership Swards DC, MD, VA, Decarbonization Award: Winner | Raymond Elementary School
- Fast Company, Innovation by Design Awards, Best Workplace Design: Honorable Mention | WHOOP Headquarters
- Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award, Display Installations: Winner | Welcome Galleries at the National Building Museum
- Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award, Best in office Buildings: Winner | Meta EMEA Headquarters
- Interior Design Magazine, NYCxDesign Awards: Finalist | 825 Third Avenue
- CoreNet NYC Design Excellence Awards, Project of the Year Under 25K sq ft: Winner | 825 Third Avenue
- USGBC, US Local Market Leadership Awards DC, MD, VA, Judge’s Choice Award: Winner | MLK Gateway II
- NAIOP DC MD Awards of Excellence, Best Washington DC Urban Office: Winner | MLK Gateway II
- CoreNet New England Awards of Excellence, Large Workplace: Winner | WHOOP Headquarters