ELS Architecture and Urban Design

Major news for a major building: our Austin Energy Headquarters project has been certified WELL Platinum! The project was awarded 91 points in total, surpassing the 80 required for Platinum, the highest level of certification in the WELL Building Standard by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). WELL measures 7 areas of building performance that impact occupant health: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. The four-story, 275,000-sf building, which accommodates 900-1000 employees, was created in collaboration with Catellus Development Corporation, Page, Austin Energy, and a team of consultants including sustainability & WELL consultant Studio D Consulting + Design, LLC. The remarkable project is now triple certified, achieving WELL Platinum certification, LEED Platinum certification, and Austin Energy Green Building’s (AEGB) 5-Star rating. Congratulations to the team!

We're excited to announce that this envisioning of an upcoming Container Village in the central California city of Soledad has been honored by the American Society of Architectural Illustrators! Created by Robert Becker as supported by our design team, the image received a Rendering Award of Excellence and was included in Architecture In Perspective 38, ASAI's annual competition and conference.    Soledad's proposed container village will be located on Front Street, just off Highway 101. Expect a lively and diverse scene filled with food vendors, small retailers, and entertainment. This new centerpiece for Soledad will be a draw for Salinas Valley residents as well as travelers looking for a roadside oasis.    Our team, together with Crafted Destinations and PGAdesign Landscape Architects, is thrilled to be a part of the City of Soledad’s exciting downtown revival. We can't wait to watch it come to life, especially as part of our vision for the adjacent Front Street downtown corridor. A special thanks to Bryan Swanson for getting this project started!   Image credit: Robert Becker

Last week, we celebrated the achievements of four longtime leaders of ELS. It was a lively time, with multiple generations of current and former ELSers gathering to share stories and appreciate the career achievements of Anthony Grand, Jeffrey Zieba, GENO YUN, and Mark Schatz. We’ve been lucky to have you! In the past 35 years or so, if you’ve spent any time in a Bay Area theater, mall, library, school, recreation center, or pool building, there’s a good chance you’ve looked at their work and thought “wow, this is a nice space.” As an additional treat, the honorees got to wear real Olympic gold medals - courtesy of Olympian and ELSer Dana Vollmer-Grant.

Can you believe what an incredible Olympic Games we've seen so far? Remember, every world-class athlete started out somewhere local. That's why we're so inspired by municipal recreation projects, where countless future Olympians see their earliest potential. For our new Memorial Park Master Plan and Aquatics Center for the City of Santa Ana and in collaboration with SWA, we doubled down on school engagement and ended up with a competition pool in addition to a fun water pool. Everybody wins! For a close-up look at the process – led by our very own Olympian Dana Vollmer-Grant – check out her article. Construction is expected to begin late 2024. https://lnkd.in/grvBRMue

Another exciting update: San Francisco Supervisors approve 3500 homes at Stonestown Galleria - one of the west side's largest residential developments in 50 years. Stonestown’s transformation is ready to move forward, upgrading this once-conventional mall site into a thriving mixed-use neighborhood. For years, ELS has been working with Brookfield Properties Retail to guide redevelopment of the site’s two former anchor buildings (the 267,000-sf Macy’s and 150,000-sf Nordstrom). These renovations fit into a larger masterplan, by SITELAB with ELS, that will include the addition of 3,500 residential units, a new outdoor retail street, and a series of plazas and gathering spaces. Image credit: Brookfield Properties Retail https://lnkd.in/dUs9mYhz

If you’re looking to cool down during this Bay Area heat wave, San Francisco’s public pools, including the indoor Balboa Pool, are free and open to all today, July 3! Check sfrecpark.org for more info. Stay cool, everyone, and have a great holiday! 😎 The renovation of the beloved Balboa Pool (by ELS + Kuth Ranieri Architects JV) is part of citywide efforts to improve wellness and recreational equity and access. Note that the pool will be closed tomorrow in observance of July 4th. PC: Bruce Damonte

Happy Juneteenth! Juneteenth is an annual recognition of the moment when the last remaining enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were freed on June 19, 1865 – 2.5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863. This day marks not only the celebration of the abolition of the institute of slavery, but also marks the beginning of the long, hard journey endured by Black Americans in pursuit of full equity – a journey which still continues to this day. Recognizing the importance of Juneteenth as a day of celebration, reflection and education is a small yet critical step in conveying solidarity with efforts to achieve equality for Black Americans. Learn more at the National Museum of African American History and Culture: https://lnkd.in/gqvPZFF

Congratulations to Fremont Bank on opening its new flagship headquarters in the heart of central Fremont! "Fremont Bank's contemporary building is an anchor for commerce and community,” says ELS Principal David Masenten. “Its unique shape and visual characteristics complement the neighboring landscape. It's a project ELS is proud of, and we're certain the design will be talked about for years to come." Thanks to our partners Fremont Bank, Overaa Construction & RESSINC for this remarkable collaboration. And this Saturday, June 15th, come to 39150 Fremont Boulevard between 11am and 3pm for the Fremont Bank Block Party. Everyone’s welcome!

Exciting news: now that a development agreement is in place, the transformation of Stonestown Galleria is ready to move forward, upgrading this once-conventional mall site into a thriving mixed-use neighborhood. For years, ELS has been working with Brookfield Properties to guide redevelopment of the site's two former anchor buildings (the 267,000-sf Macy’s and 150,000-sf Nordstrom). These renovations fit into a larger masterplan, by SITELAB urban studio with ELS, that will include the addition of 3,500 residential units, a new outdoor retail street, and a series of plazas and gathering spaces.

Opening Winter 2024, the Piedmont Community Pool is a new local resource for aquatics, recreation and wellness. Sitting at the center of the City of Piedmont, CA, this highly visible project will employ all-electric operations and is targeting LEED Silver. This project’s programming and design were shaped through extensive public input, so we’re excited to see it support the community’s many interests. #ELSgreen #EarthWeek2024