The final environmental impact report has been published for the UC Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park in Mountain View, Santa Clara County. The review provides a master plan with maximum and minimum development parameters for the potential new academic campus working with the space agency. The project is being developed by Moffett Partners LLC, a joint venture with The Regents of the University of California and SKS Partners.
UC Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park, rendering via CEQA
UC Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park view from the central green to Hangar One, rendering via CEQA
The master plan is expected to total 2.3 million square feet, with 1.39 million square feet for laboratories, 350,000 square feet of office use, and 260,000 square feet for academic facilities. Additional functions will include around 200,000 square feet for housing students, faculty, and short-term lodging, and 25,000 square feet for conference uses. The residential component would provide space for 200 guests and 363 residents.
UC Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park site plan, illustration via CEQA
UC Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park native and woodland planting, rendering via CEQA
UC Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park gateway plaza, rendering via CEQA
The development team highlights how the proximity to existing industry will benefit students, writing, “science and research work best in an environment that forces interaction. The Master Plan for Berkeley Space Center seeks to create such a place, with a critical mass of people that’s needed for productive and innovative research.” The campus would bring students close to the Moffett Federal Airfield, Shenandoah Plaza, and the established research campus at NASA ARC. The campus includes wind tunnels, supercomputers, and Google’s Planetary Ventures in Hangar One.
The design and engineering team will include HOK, Field Operations, LMS Architects, and Arup. The renderings published as part of the FEIR are described as conceptual in nature, giving viewers a broad sense of scale and aesthetics for the future campus, though details about the facade are likely to change.
UC Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park aerial overview, rendering via CEQA
UC Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park phasing, illustration via CEQA
According to the project narrative, “in this mater plan, we outline a comprehensive vision, linking building, landscape, movement, environment, sustainability, and large social and intellectual missions into one… The design vision choreographs the environment for communal interaction, enhancing the possibility for new synergies and ideas and building a truly urban community.”
Construction is expected to be split into four phases occurring sequentially, with the first phase lasting the longest, over 54 months, and each subsequent phase lasting around 42 months. If work starts in mid-2027, full build-out is expected by 2041.
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More BORING tech campuses… why does Silicon Valley Lack creative and stunning architecture… it is a sea of concrete and boring tech campuses.
This isn’t a tech company campus. It’s a university aerospace research and academic facility. Basic literacy is key.
These aren’t even the architectural plans. Just the master plan that’s been considered.
Maybe they have more developed images, but public projects for universities rarely show their cards until the groundbreaking has already commenced.
Stanford’s new buildings are all incredibly cool and tasteful. But the renderings available here are hideous, I agree
These aren’t really renderings for a buildable product. This is just for the EIR/EIS and master plan just to show massing. There is no way the buildings will end up looking like this. Still, they could have done a better job with the images.
I expect more from HOK as far as façade development
Bringing in UC Berkeley onboard Moffett Field is a nightmare. I guess the security aspects of Moffett Field Federal Airfield is going to be shelved and/or removed away.