Verdant Sanctuary was awarded local entitlement for a new cutting-edge mass timber sustainable office building in Stanford Research Park, Palo Alto, California. The structure embraces nature through each design element including its wooden and glass architecture and dynamic roof form reflecting the shape of birds’ wings. We call the building Verdant Sanctuary because it offers a pastoral break in a canyon of structures built on zero-lot lines. It will harmonize with the surrounding buildings and add an inspiring, sustainable project to the community. The mass-timber structure is sensitive to scale, materials, and design of the neighbourhood, instilling a calm, synergistic harmony with the existing community.

With only one level of below-grade parking and a mature street tree landscape, the Verdant Sanctuary is designed to be pedestrian friendly.  The structure features sustainability considerations such as PV Panels for sustainable energy harvesting, a green roof for insulation and water conservation, and an all-electric layout. The roof garden and terrace encourage interaction and promote leisure, while the mass timber structure reduces carbon emissions.

The approval of entitlements for this building is a great win for the local community as it will create a beautiful, sustainable building with state-of-the-art technology that can serve as a model for the future of hybrid timber/steel building design.

Post-selection of the anchor tenant, construction on the project is estimated to begin in 2024.