Photo courtesy Okland Construction

The building’s offset floor design posed alignment issues that complicated design, engineering and construction. In plan, the building is based on a simple coffin-shaped structural form. Each floor then shifts approximately 15 degrees from this base structure. The shifted geometry is supported by piers that become angular elements that further inform the building’s shape. Each floor is partially one shift and partially another, taking the conventional office form and slightly modifying it as the building grows in height. Each shift then generates the unique outdoor shaded terraces.

An 18-ft-tall seawall is engineered to withstand significant force should the Santa Clara River ever flood. However, seawall construction had to be completed to protect the property before work could begin on the main building.

Notable construction strategies included the use of rammed aggregate piers, which increased the site’s soil-bearing pressure from 1,500 psi to 7,000 psi to ensure a stable foundation. BIM coordination facilitated the precise placement of structural and MEP elements. Slip forms expedited construction of the concrete stair towers and elevator core as well, while cassette mechanical units provide efficient HVAC without the need for extensive ductwork.

Crews used Prodeq, a spray-applied waterproofing liquid, which replaced costly stainless steel basins for the project’s water features while ensuring durability. Large landscape rocks offer aesthetic appeal and protect against vehicle intrusion at a lower cost than traditional bollards.