Eco-Conscious Architecture

Office architects embrace green design

By Yardi Blog Staff on Mar 18, 2014 in News

A healthy office environment is what keeps a company strong. Many of the West Coast tech companies that have experienced tremendous growth in recent times have recognized the benefits of sustainable architecture and built their campuses around green principles, with an emphasis on creativity and fluid design.

Major tech players of the modern world, including Google, Apple, Samsung Electronics or Nvidia, are currently working on super-sized office parks that feature avant-garde designs and cohesive work environments.

While they are all incontestably unique in terms of architecture and design principles, there’s one recurring theme that brings them forth as stewards of the environment: particularly their focus on eco-consciousness and livability.

Samsung is working with architecture firm NBBJ to develop their new American headquarters in Silicon Valley. The outfit’s design embraces new urban guidelines established by the City of San Jose which call for densification, active streetscapes, and environmental stewardship, as pointed out by NBBJ.

The state-of-the-art campus will be anchored by a 10-story tower, enhanced by an amenity pavilion and an 8-story parking garage. An abundance of green space and recreational facilities will be integrated throughout the development with the precise intent to induce a state of relaxation for all employees and encourage interaction among company staff.

With its imposing height and innovative form, the new HQs are aimed at creating a powerful brand image for Samsung. The tower is clad in white metal and clear glass, balanced to reduce solar heat gain. The podium is clad in warm terracotta hues and metals that are sympathetic to the traditional colors of San Jose.

Besides promoting healthy lifestyles, green design acts as leverage when it comes to attracting and retaining the best and the brightest talent in the highly competitive tech market, which is growing at a faster rate than overall employment. Working out of a nurturing and supportive space is extremely stimulating for employees in the creative sector, and it becomes a real help in boosting office productivity.

The office park will become home to 2,000 Samsung employees and will be divided into two sections: R&D and sales. A courtyard will connect the building together, creating a central gathering place to facilitate communication and collegial interaction.

The intuitive design ensures that each Samsung employee is no further than one floor away from green space, which is something that you wouldn’t commonly see in most high-rise structures. Moreover, the property offers a wide range of amenities including fitness facilities, artwork, and cafes — some of which will be open to the public – making it easy for employees to bump into each other and share opinions.

In addition to encouraging collaboration and innovation, the structure was envisioned as a staple of green engineering. Highly energy-efficient elements and eco-friendly materials have been incorporated throughout the building; for example, a rooftop solar array on the parking garage will provide renewable energy; the tower’s façade is designed to reduce solar heat gain, which reduces energy costs related to cooling a building; clear glass will allow natural light deep into the floorplate; and trees and water features provide connections to the environment.

NBBJ identifies five trends impacting high-tech office design that any organization, big or small, high-tech or low-tech, can take advantage of to improve operational performance, employee wellbeing and talent recruitment: changing demographics, knowledge sharing, desire for wellness, digital meets physical and new architecture technologies. Learn more about each of these trends by clicking through the slideshow here.