Green Work Place Vision, East Bay:

The vision of a Green Work Place (GWP) is a team effort by o2 Architecture and land owner, East bay Lofts LLC, Bob Winet, Managing Member. Our vision is to build a new mixed use; LEED certified green work place, comprised of three uses on three stories, Light Manufacturing on the ground floor, Self Storage on the second floor and Class A Office space on the third floor. This vision comes from the necessity that a green economic future in USA requires a new business/building model. Our first challenge was to take the existing largely vacant infill site, located between the Interstate 880 (Nimitz) Freeway, and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, and revitalize it. The building site is also adjacent to an Oakland Historical Landmark, The California Cotton Mills factory building (18883 & 1917), qualified for the National Register of Historic places. The challenge and vision was to design a synergistic building use appropriate for the site and ongoing revitalization of the Fruitvale, Oakland, Central Estuary Area. We believe the design is accomplished and is currently moving through the City’s Entitlement Process. This triangular site enjoys unprecedented freeway visibility allowing maximum tenant signage opportunities within Green Work Place. The site has good freeway access with east and west off ramps. The adjacent historic California Cotton Mills building was adaptively renovated to self storage in 1979 and then subsequently into 74 work/live rental lofts in 2004. Seismic earthquake retrofitting was included in the redevelopment costs of approximately $16,000,000. Two developments at the same location will provide potential work-force and service opportunities for both. See www.cottonmillstudios.com.

Projects Sustainable Characteristics:

First and foremost the proposed building maximizes the use of the existing undeveloped infill site. An existing historic 4,500 SF brick storage building that anchors the northwest site corner will be adapted and reused for Light Manufacturing opportunities. The remainder of the 1.3 acre site is comprised the aforementioned three story building which utilizes a prefabricated "system-of-components" (kit-of-parts). This system-of-components is completely bolted together utilizing a light gage bi-directional moment resisting frame and connections (see www.fcpmezzanine.com) This unique system is designed for rapid assembly and disassembly, so at the end of the buildings life or its economic viability, the system-of-components may be disassembled and reused on an alternate site. This prefabricated design is a frontier for sustainable design (see www.blueskyhomesllc.com) and it is seamlessly incorporated into this Green Work Place development. Moreover, the building has a roof mounted solar electric system so the GWP will be energy neutral due in part to good passive design (solar shading, day lighting and natural cross ventilation) with highly efficient mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems. In short, the sustainable strategies utilized in this building make it carbon neutral and economically compelling. LEED Platinum designation is attainable within out economic model and one of our project goals.

Projected Sustainable uses by Tenants

A sustainable green tenant and or investor is sought to Anchor the development in the class A office space with their company name identified on the freeway. The ground floor spaces will be used and rented as innovation garages, for “Green Jobs” training, light manufacturing and distribution of sustainable products and services. The majority of these ground floor spaces have dedicated outdoor work space directly accessible for the interior through large overhead doors. The self storage spaces will be utilized primarily by the business and manufacturing tenants. Oakland's sustainable "Foodies" will also be preferred tenants and an organic garden will be available on site for use by tenants. The project will be operated as Green Small Business Center for green tenants and provide Green Job Training as advocated by the federal government.

Green Work Place Summary

Our vision and objective is to integrate this project into an inspiring and cost effective redevelopment utilizing LEED certification, cutting edge green technology and our system of components. In short, walking the walk and giving others the opportunity to do so as well. What’s more, in developing adjacent to the historic, California Cotton Mills Studios, a mutually supportive community will be fostered which is currently fully occupied. We believe we have designed an outstanding synergistic plan for the benefit of both properties and owners. It will be our pleasure to provide you with any additional information you may require. We firmly believe that sustainable buildings are the future and look forward to implementing our plan with you.