2019 Year in Review
Every year at South Bay Construction, we take time to reflect on the hard work our team put in over the past 12 months and the milestones achieved as a result. This year was a big one for us, as it saw the successful completion of multiple builds, joyous company celebrations, and a renewed vision for navigating what comes next.
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies and Team BBQs
In June, a recently completed build in Sunnyvale gave the South Bay crew plenty of reason to celebrate. The new headquarters for DNA analysis company 23andMe reflected the working partnership between the tenants, South Bay Construction, and companies like ARC TEC, CBRE, Stockbridge Capital Group, Compass Solutions, Spear Street Capital, SmithGroup, and Orchard Partners. The 23andMe interiors feature floor-to-ceiling windows and an open, industrial warehouse aesthetic. On-site amenities include in-house bike storage and repair space, lockers and showers for the company’s active team members, and plenty of open public spaces. At the site’s ribbon cutting, attendees cheered the official opening, strolled the newly laid paths, basked in the warm sun, and ate an ice cream cone (or two) as a way of commemorating the project.
Two months later, South Bay Construction hosted a celebratory BBQ at 650 Live Oak in Menlo Park. A partnership with The Minkoff Group and Brick, the resulting three-story mixed use building offered Menlo Park a new option for office and residential space. The build also featured two multi-family housing structures containing apartments, townhouses, and studio living, and provides residents with a community garden and shared courtyards. The festive BBQ marked the successful completion of South Bay Construction’s third project with The Minkoff Group, a trusted and valued partner.
Featured Projects Completed in 2019
This year, South Bay Construction worked on a variety of projects throughout the Bay Area. Each build relied upon the skills of our team, the strength of our partnerships, and a deep level of expertise that comes from over 40 years of being in business. A few of our most noteworthy accomplishments include:
Mission Marketplace
Nestled in the dynamic hub of Santa Clara, this project saw the construction of a five-story contemporary hotel and five new retail spaces. The Element Hotel features 175 guest rooms, an exercise room, breakfast and kitchen spaces, a bar, and an exterior pool. Open floor plans and light wood fixtures create a tranquil and luxurious ambience for hotel guests. The single-story retail units of the nearby marketplace were designed with glass storefronts and charred wood cladding, and a well-designed parking lot ensures shoppers can enjoy their experience from the moment they pull in.
221 Matilda
The home of the new 23andMe headquarters, this shell project offered an interesting mix of technical challenges. A glass art installation on the building exterior required careful planning and foresight, and a designated historic building on site was relocated and renovated into a breakout space for 23andMe employees, requiring close attention to detail. The project paid particular homage to the site’s roots as an orchard: the campus includes a 10,000-square-foot public park, with walking paths, benches, and concrete ping pong tables available to the public. A crepe myrtle orchard takes place of pride in the park, offering enlivened green space to this prime section of Sunnyvale. The result is a three-story office building with ample outdoor space that strikes a balance between work and community.
Water Tower Project
The Water Tower Plaza project saw South Bay completing extensive renovations to several historic buildings in downtown Campbell. One of the project’s tenant improvements was a refit for Wave, the artificial intelligence database infrastructure company. It included 35,500 square feet of new conference rooms, server rooms, labs, breakrooms, a boardroom, washroom and shower facilities, and open offices. The Water Tower construction included multiple market-ready suites, with voluntary seismic upgrades in every space. As the build was completed in a historical landmark constructed in 1983 by the Campbell Fruit Growers Union, South Bay Construction made sure to preserve the site’s integrity while bringing modern conveniences into the mix.
Hyatt House
There was lots for South Bay to tackle on this Cupertino build, which comprised a five-story hotel and a subterranean garage. At 102,700 square feet, the 148-room build was designed as four levels of wood frame structure on top of a first-floor concrete podium. The completed hotel features a pool, business center, and fitness center.
237 @ 1st: Phases One and Two
This two-phase project included many problem solving opportunities. South Bay worked closely with Kenneth Rodrigues & Partners to achieve their design intent. This meant careful coordination with Silicon Valley Power to install a new underground system that required extensive welding. Above ground, olive trees relocated from another site created an arbor for a BBQ area, complete with heaters for year-round use. A large patio area was decked out with tables, chairs, and a polished concrete bar. Nearby, a sand volleyball court with turf offers recreation opportunity, while a reclaimed lumber wall acts as a windbreak. South Bay was able to stick to schedule despite winter weather complications and permit delays, and the building was fully leased.
What We’ve Learned and Where We’re Headed: 2019 Takeaways
We always want to make sure we’re delivering the best at South Bay Construction—not just in terms of the quality of our work, but in how we position companies for success by understanding our market. In our thought leadership this year, we addressed rising constructions costs and the California labor shortage, while also calling out what’s next with our 2020 tenant improvement predictions. We’re always working to keep our clients on the cutting edge. In order to learn more or work with us, drop us a line.
At South Bay Construction, we provide clients with quality construction, trusted relationships, and a promise to stay on the forefront of innovation through applying cutting edge technologies. If you’d like to learn more about us, or get started on a project, please contact us.