CLIENTStanford Real Estate

SERVICESMaster Planning, New Construction

LOCATIONPalo Alto, CA

SIZE83,000 sq ft + 44,000 below-grade parking

STATUSCompletion 2020 (shell + core)

Tucked into its hilly site in the southwestern portion of the Stanford Research Park, the new building backs up to scenic Coyote Hill. The design provides both the feeling of an intimate campus and sweeping views out across Palo Alto and the greater Silicon Valley. Our guiding principle was to develop a design that harmonizes with the beautiful hillside setting while attracting and accelerating innovation for technology, R&D, biotech, and life sciences tenants.

View from Hillview Avenue
View from Hillview Avenue

The building is stepped with the slope of the hillside to create a series of elevated terraces and stepped plazas that guide visitors to the entrances and encourage tenants to enjoy the mature redwood trees and native landscaping throughout the site.

Walkway on east elevation
Walkway on east elevation
Northwest corner
Northwest corner
West elevation with main building entrance
West elevation with main building entrance

Inspired by the backdrop of Coyote Hill, we selected warm and earthy materials to convey a welcoming presence while also expressing forward-looking, high-performance building systems, large expanses of glass, and open floorplates essential for an R&D/office building. We integrated architectural and shading strategies to maximize day-lighting while reducing energy loads, and added a large photovoltaic array on the roof. Floor-to-ceiling glass along most of the north façade and a large saw-toothed central skylight bring bright natural light deep inside the building. The two wings flank a great central room, forming the social and collaborative heart of the project.

Skylight and open floorplates
Skylight and open floorplates
West elevation
West elevation
West terrace
West terrace
West terrace
West terrace
View from Coyote Hill
View from Coyote Hill
Site plan
Site plan
The north elevation looks out to a redwood grove
The north elevation looks out to a redwood grove
View from Hillview Avenue
View from Hillview Avenue

PHOTOGRAPHYTim Griffith