Commercial & Adaptive Reuse: Reimagining Urban Spaces

Camp Hess Kramer (Wilshire Boulevard Temple)

Education & Adaptive Reuse

Silicon Valley University

Location
San Jose, CA
Client
Silicon Valley University
Project Type
Educational, Adaptive Reuse
Size
70,000+ sf
Status
Completed 2015
Role
Project Architect at WZ Architecture
Key Features
classrooms, "Interior Street" Concept, Collaborative Learning Environment

This project is a powerful demonstration of value creation through strategic adaptive reuse. The challenge was to transform a generic, 70,000-square-foot light industrial structure into a dynamic, modern campus for Silicon Valley University, an institute specializing in computer science and engineering. The design needed to house modern classrooms with the latest IT, while providing a space for student collaboration.

The key design intervention was the creation of a central, double-height "interior street" that runs through the heart of the building. This single move organized the entire facility—which includes computer labs, a library, an auditorium, and a student lounge—and transformed the building's deep floor plate into a vibrant hub for communication.1 By strategically placing lounge and break areas along this interior street and introducing three large skylights to bring natural light into the core, the design actively encourages interaction and the cross-pollination of ideas outside the formal classroom setting.

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Silicon Valley University campus architecture fostering collaborative learning environments with modern educational facilities
Silicon Valley University interior space promoting academic excellence through thoughtful sustainable building design
Silicon Valley University campus building exterior showcasing educational architecture designed for learning and collaboration