1265 Drilling gas
Calif.
Better project, green project
Presented by XL construction
Owner: Google LLC
Main design company: Michael Green Architecture
Contractor: XL construction
Civil Engineer: Kier and Wright
Structural Engineer: Balance consulting
MEP Engineer: intrude
Architect of record: SERA Architects
Development manager: Sares Regis Group of Northern California
The first solid wood office building for Google and for the city of Sunnyvale, California, is designed for energy efficiency and to support occupant comfort and well-being. The all-electric building is expected to produce 96% less carbon emissions than an equivalent steel and concrete structure, taking sequestration into account. Rooftop solar panels generate renewable energy, while natural lighting strategies and displacement ventilation improve indoor air quality.
A first-in-the-nation sealed cavity facade is continuously supplied with dry, filtered air, which prevents condensation and dust accumulation. The system can automatically adjust the blinds to manage sunlight and heat, improving maintenance-free performance inside the cavity.
Photo by Mark Wickens
Once the facade arrived in the Netherlands, the team assembled the structure in just 12 weeks, making up for delays caused by an international shipping crisis related to the pandemic. The building’s concrete and wood composite cantilever floor decks had significant technical requirements for shoring and joining the concrete slabs to the cross-laminated timber panels.
“Prior to the construction of 1265 Borregas, we used a full-scale two-span building mock-up to demonstrate the performance of solid wood,” says Dave Beck, executive vice president of XL Construction, the project’s general contracting firm.
Photo by Mark Wickens
“The team educated and worked with city jurisdictions on how to design, review, construct and inspect a multi-story solid wood building,” notes Beck. “Because of this education and partnership, the final design and construction went smoothly.” The building’s biophilic design creates a unique user experience, he adds. “When you’re in this building, especially under the double-height ceilings, it’s moving. You can really feel the biophilic benefits; it’s a unique place.”
