1265 Borregas

Google's 1265 Borregas, a stunning LEED Platinum mass timber office in Sunnyvale, leads in design, planning, and sustainability with 96% less embodied carbon.

Award Details

Location

Sunnyvale, CA

Client

Google

Architect

SERA Architects / Michael Green Architecture

Size

Confidential

Value

Confidential

Market Sector

Commercial

Delivery Method

Progressive Design-Build

Attributes

Award Winner
Mass Timber

Certifications

Google is continuing to invest in sustainable, healthy workspaces with the opening of 1265 Borregas, its first ground-up mass timber office building in Sunnyvale, California. XL Construction brought this sustainable building to life as design-build lead for 1265 Borregas, an all-electric five-story LEED Platinum office building that is projected to have 96% fewer embodied carbon emissions compared to an equivalent steel and concrete structure, when factoring in sequestration. XL managed all aspects of design, planning, entitlements, and permitting using a target value design approach. In addition, XL orchestrated erection of this groundbreaking building, constructed class A interiors, and implemented pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly site redevelopment for parking.
1265 Borregas features a rooftop PV array that generates power for the building. The building also optimizes daylight and views throughout, with the use of a large skylight and a dynamic facade with controlled wooden Accoya blinds that automatically track the sun and adjust for worker comfort throughout the day. The flexible core and shell were designed to allow the building to serve various user needs over a long period, extending the building’s lifecycle and minimizing the need for future renovation.

Challenges and Solutions

Challenge

For this client’s and Sunnyvale’s first mass timber building, this team had to test several unique conditions before application.

Solution

XL built a two-story mock-up that was used to ensure success using new methods and materials and quickly became a showcase for how the XL team would bring this client’s first mass timber project to life. The mockup established quality standards and tested many options, including those for:

Erection of timber

Protection and finishing of timber

HBV connector installation

The hold between CLT deck and concrete

Moisture control

Aesthetic impacts of various building materials

Closed cavity facade windows

In addition, a utility placement and raised access floor mock-ups were used as visual representations to inform design decisions and installation sequencing of MEP equipment.
From what was learned in these mock-ups, XL authored a lesson learned document and used it to improve the design and inform our approach to construction of this and future mass timber buildings. Many lessons learned were added to our team’s Timber Erection Playbook.