Commercial architecture is both challenging and rewarding. In California, commercial architects are expected to design and oversee the construction of some of the state’s largest commercial projects. This article highlights four of the state’s most exciting projects in development right now. If you’re a commercial architect interested in working on a project of a similar scale, get in touch with our dedicated recruitment team today.
Adobe North Tower
Project Overview
In June 2019, Adobe broke ground in San Jose, California on its ambitious North Tower. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, this innovative building will be connected to its existing campus by a pedestrian bridge. The software giant has placed a special emphasis on reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by opting for an all-electric building. The vast majority of its electricity will be generated from wind and solar energy. The 18-story building is expected to be completed in 2022.
Design & Construction Team
Gensler is the commercial architecture firm responsible for the design of the Adobe North Tower. Before the North Tower project, Gensler also partnered with Adobe on their Campus Renovation project. The respected firm was founded in 1965 and has 50 offices across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the Americas. The firm has 6 offices in California.
CityView
Project Overview
Downtown San Jose is in the midst of a major redevelopment project by the Jay Paul Company. CityView is one of the redevelopment’s most exciting commercial architecture initiatives. The project includes six interconnected, 19-story mixed-use towers. The intention of the project is to blend urban work and play. While the majority of the space will be rented out as a tech campus, the remainder is reserved for recreational use, including an 80,000-sq.-ft. fitness center.
Design & Construction Team
Gensler is leading the design of CityView on behalf of Jay Paul Company, a major real estate firm. The construction of CityView is being handled by Level 10 Construction, a California-based general contractor with offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, San Diego, and Austin, Texas.
Richards Blvd Office Complex
Project Overview
The Richards Boulevard Office Complex will be the latest addition to Sacramento’s vibrant River District. The massive project will see four commercial towers erected around a “Town Square”—a manicured green space intended to tie the buildings together. Two bridges will also be constructed between buildings to create a coherent, inter-connected experience. The buildings will mirror the River District’s diverse industrial aesthetic by using a mix of materials including timber and metal. Sustainability is also at the heart of the designs. According to the design firm’s project brief, “the project will exceed Title 24 by more than 15% and achieve the lowest practicable Energy Use Intensity (EUI).” The project is projected to be completed in 2024.
Design & Construction Team
Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture (D+B) has teamed up with fellow architecture firm ZGF to design and manage the project. D+B was established in 1950 and has grown into one of Northern California’s most respected firms. The company has received over 100 regional and national awards for a variety of initiatives and projects. ZGF was founded over 70 years ago in Oregon. Today, the leading architecture firm has six offices and over 750 employees. ZGF is known for creating sustainable architecture with minimal environmental impact. Hensel Phelps has been contracted to complete the construction.
Research And Development District (RaDD)
Project Overview
Upon completion, RaDD will be the largest urban commercial waterfront site in California. Located in San Diego’s Columbia District, the office, laboratory, and retail space will span eight acres—the equivalent of three city blocks. The completed project will include five environmentally-friendly buildings that will use low-temp water and pumps to generate heat and electricity. The buildings will feature green roofs and solar PV panels.
Design & Construction Team
Gensler has been commissioned by IQHQ, a leading life science real estate firm, to handle the design of the project. IQHQ is responsible for many of the country’s most prominent life science campuses including The Fenway Center Life Science Campus in Boston, Alewife Park in Cambridge, and the Innovation Park in Andover.
Find Your Next Commercial Architecture Job In California
Commercial architecture is a demanding, albeit rewarding career path. At Certis Solutions, we help California-based candidates find the right position at the right firm. With deep-rooted connections to the industry, we have business relationships and direct lines of communication with the state’s most prominent firms. As AEC professionals ourselves, we also understand exactly what employers in these fields are looking for.
Get in touch with our dedicated recruitment team today to find your next commercial architecture job.
