S K Y S C R A P I N G                               Oakland High-Rise

New construction for 1000 ft. high commercial tower

Concept Study, 425,000 sf, Oakland, USA

The core of Oakland is a blend of beautiful historic buildings, newer government office structures and commercial towers, and a variety of empty lots used for surface parking.  We propose to improve the very small footprint of a triangular lot immediately to the north of the Civic center and at the terminus of San Pablo Ave, with Oakland’s tallest commercial structure at 63 stories and 1000 ft. At its very northern corner resides an historic 3 story Law Office building which must be preserved and integrated into the project.  Underground car lifts provide a limited number of spaces beneath a commercial multi-floor plaza that opens to bring southern sun down to the Law Office the and allow cross paths for pedestrian traffic.

Our Approach is to contribute to Oakland a unique curvilinear profile that stands out in the skyline, visible from all points of the North Bay area, a structure that catches the sun and reflects it at different angles throughout the day while offering small yet highly finished office floor plates to the service industry: attorneys, designers, engineers, and consultants.

The serrated window walls at the east, south and west elevations (with operable windows) are angled for self shading with a glazed upper transom section that introduces sunlight onto a moveable section of the suspended ceiling and reflects it back deep into the floorplan to virtually eliminate the need for electric light during the day. At its top, tapered to a scraper’s edge, a triangular glazed arboretum hosts a collonade of poplar trees to frame views of water and bridges that would be among the best in region, while the tower’s central location would give it direct access to BART, AC Transit, bike routes, and all the restaurant, service support amenities, and business proximity benefits of the Bay Area’s 3rd largest city.