435 Portage

Warehouse to Office Transformation

Location: Palo Alto, CA

Area: 9500 SQ-FT

Completed: 2013

After more than 60 years as a manufacturing and warehouse district, the neighborhood off El Camino Real around Portage Avenue was evolving into a desirable mixed-use neighborhood. The challenge of 435 Portage was to redevelop a 60 year old unconditioned corrugated metal warehouse building on a small urban infill site into a fully parked Class A office space. To achieve this goal, the team designed, entitled, permitted, and constructed the project in less than one year. The existing structure was retained and converted into a structurally sound, sustainable, code compliant building that not only works with the existing industrial context, but looks forward to a more contemporary material expression. Full site accessibility and 38 new parking spaces were designed. The renovated design transforms the previously dark utilitarian interior into an inspiring and light filled modern office.

Property Owner PAP, LLC c/o Tarlton Properties, Inc.

General Contractor Cody|Brock, Inc.

Structural Engineering Duquette Engineering

Photography Bernardo Grijalva Photography