It's architectural giant Gensler, and it's got plans to make Oakland a green and smart city upon its arrival. (It's about time we got some hot new styles around here.)
Its San Ramon office at 6111 Bollinger Canyon Rd (pictured above) will relocate to Oakland as soon as the end of this year, sources tell us, and it's likely moving to the downtown area. Some tech companies—some of Gensler's clients, in fact—are also migrating to Oakland. (You've got to bring your entourage.) Gensler is remaining mum on the move for now. (Below is the Razorfish Emerging Experience Lab, an example of Gensler's work.)
Oakland is somewhat a sleepy town when it comes to architectural firms, which means Gensler is making a pioneer move. There is, however, an existing artist and craftsmen presence in the city and nearby (Emeryville's got lots of art studios). Gensler's already got a solid lineup of Oakland work; one client is e.l.f., a cosmetics company that stands for "eyes lips face." (If you need ear makeup, hit the bricks.) It's clear that Gensler is an advocate for transforming Oakland into more of a sustainable metropolis; a month ago, it released a list of 50 ways to make Oakland a more livable city, including creating a "smart office" that monitors daily data—including weather, energy consumption, travel-to-work patterns, and occupancy needs—to make informed decisions about the optimal use of office space.
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