This project was for a leading technology company with over 16,000 people in 40 different buildings (totaling 6 mil sqft) on 5 different suburban corporate campuses in San Jose, CA. 

These "campuses" were for the most part repetitive, generic buildings surrounded by a sea of surface parking lots with little open space, amenities, or other features tying them together or providing any sense of corporate identity. In typical fashion for Silicon Valley, recruitment and retention of high quality talent is always an issue, and real estate plays a role in that process.

In addition, significant growth was expected, requiring more than 5 million square feet of additional new buildings. HOK's Advance Strategies group was hired to explore potential consolidation, densification, and/or expansion opportunities within the area. Any densification would likely involve structured parking solutions and/or transportation demand management and transit measures. 

The work involved reviewing entitlements issues and planned dispositions, and developing strategies for negotiating with the city regarding additional density. Smart growth and sustainability measures were also considered. A significant part of the project was exploring what the “campus of the future” should be.

Building prototypes were reviewed and preliminary concept site planning was undertaken to demonstrate how growth could be accommodated going forward in a way that improves the environment, provides amenities, and supports transit. This informed potential key acquisitions and dispositions, and was the basis for negotiations with the city.  Cost estimates were produced and a review of the financial implications of each scenario was also undertaken.

Role: Brian Jennett performed most of the research and analysis and created the supporting graphics demonstrating concepts as shown below.