Q. Why does the Foundation need a new building?
A. The project was planned in anticipation of a modest growth in staffing to help us meet our mission in coming decades, and to help us better align with our long-term sustainability goals. Our current buildings will not be able to support staff increases, nor can they support our long-term efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and energy consumption. The best way for us to meet all of these goals is to build a highly sustainable, efficient building that can accommodate our current and future needs.
Q. How many buildings does the Foundation currently occupy?
A. The Foundation currently occupies three buildings in Los Altos, one at 300 Second Street, one at 175 South San Antonio Road, and we utilize 321 Second Street for storage and operations. Once construction is complete, we will consolidate employees in the new building and the 300 Second Street building. We are considering other options for the 175 building, but no final decisions have been made at this time.
Q. What will the new building look like?
A. The new building will be inviting, attractive, and understated, and will reflect the values of the Foundation and the Los Altos community. The building will be two stories and should accommodate up to approximately 120 office workers at full capacity. The design of the building will be in harmony with the existing architectural style of the neighborhood.
Q. Who is leading the architecture and design of this project?
A. The lead architect for this project is EHDD Architecture, a nationally recognized San Francisco–based firm that has previously designed the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and is a leader in the design and construction of sustainable buildings.
Q. How will the construction process impact the community?
A. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation has proudly been part of the Los Altos community for more than 45 years. Now, however, we’ve started raising a little more dust than usual. Now that construction of our new building is under way, our neighbors may experience greater levels of noise and dust for the next few months. We want to thank our neighbors and the community for their support and patience during the construction phase. All construction is taking place in accordance with the City of Los Altos permits. Furthermore, in keeping with our goals to protect and conserve our environment, we will make every effort to have a minimal impact on our community’s environment throughout the process. Construction is expected to be completed in 2012. Please check our website for more updates in the future.
Q. When will the Foundation begin to occupy the new building?
A. We anticipate that the Foundation will begin to occupy the new building in 2012, but timelines may shift.
If you have any additional questions regarding the Foundation’s new Net Zero Energy building, please contact Director of Communications Minna Jung at (650) 917-7247 or mjung@packard.org.