UC Berkeley has published the notice of preparation for the Berkeley Space Center in the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Santa Clara County. The university is working with NASA to create a $2 billion 36-acre research campus of academic and research facilities in the heart of the historic Moffett Field. UC and San Francisco-based SKS Partners have entered a joint venture, Moffett Partners LLC, to pursue development.
The stated goal of the Berkeley Space Center is “to create a state-of-the-art research and education hub that shapes the future of technology and innovation and to advance UC Regents’ educational, scientific research, charitable, and other exempt purposes.”
Berkeley Space Center lawn, rendering by Field Operations and HOK
Berkeley Space Center aerial view, rendering by Field Operations and HOK
Two project alternatives consider building either 1.4 million or 2.3 million square feet of floor area across the new public district. The larger alternative includes 1.99 million square feet for educational use, 22,000 square feet for a conference center, 126,000 square feet for student and faculty housing, and 73,000 square feet for short-term lodging. For the smaller alternative, the project would reduce the research and office capacity down to 1.1 million square feet, keeping the same capacity for all other uses. The campus will be connected with a transportation network plan around landscaped open space.
Construction will bring 11 structures in a master plan drafted by HOK and Field Operations. Renderings published alongside the project announcement last year provided detailed renderings of the landscaping and amenity functions while giving a limited glimpse at potential architectural design.
Berkeley Space Center site map, rendering by Field Operations and HOK
Ames Research Center was founded in 1939 as a research campus for aeronautics and exploration technology within Moffett Field. The campus includes Hangar One, still one of the largest freestanding structures in the world, built by the US Navy in 1933. Google is currently restoring the enormous hangar to host the tech company’s Planetary Ventures research unit. Site plans for the Berkeley Space Center are largely guided by framing a central sightline of the looming landmark.
The Notice of Preparation explains that the future Environmental Impact Report and Impact Statement will be jointly drafted. UC Berkeley is requesting public comment to inform the scope and content of the future reports from now until July 22nd. The university and NASA will hold two online public scoping meetings later next month on July 10th and July 15th. For more information, visit the UC Berkeley website here.
Berkeley Space Center property outlined approximately by YIMBY
Construction is expected to start by 2027, according to reporting from Emily Margaretten for the Mountain View Voice. However, Margaretten noted that the university is working to cultivate new aerospace start-ups by connecting the SkyDeck accelerator program with the space center.
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How many stories (or feet) high structures will be built?