Alma Station
This three-story office building is adjacent to the Menlo Park Caltrain station and is part of Menlo Park’s larger El Camino Real/Downtown Specific Plan. The location of this building is intended to increase convenience for employees taking the train to work, but it still has two levels of underground parking. Because of its sustainable design, the building is classified as LEED Platinum, as it releases Net Zero Energy.
Site Square Footage: 28,750 sq. ft.
Date Completed: 2019
Client: Lane Partners
Architect: BAR Architects
Structural Engineer: Holmes Culley Structural Engineers
Civil Engineer: Sandis
General Contractor: Vance Brown Builders
Rockridge Geotechnical (RG) performed a field investigation, developed geotechnical recommendations, and provided geotechnical services during the construction of this building. The primary geotechnical issues affecting the development were the need for an adequate shoring system to support the approximately 31-foot excavation and the excavation’s potential influence on the existing buildings near the site. The parking garage's shoring system consisted of soil nails and interior bracing supported on micropiles. In addition to the new office building, a new plaza was constructed adjacent to the new building. The plaza includes a private courtyard, a public plaza, a coffee pavilion, a pergola, pavement, landscaping, and bioretention planters.