Fortinet Headquarters
The cybersecurity company, Fortinet, is constructing a new headquarters campus in four phases. The first phase, which was completed, consists of a new, four-story building (Building 1) with office space and research and development space. The second phase, a parking structure, is currently under construction. Future phases include two additional office buildings and a second parking structure.
Site Square Footage: 17 acres
Date Completed: Building 1 - 2021, Parking Structure 1 - ongoing
Client: Fortinet, Inc. (c/o Sares Regis Group of Northern California)
Architect: Building 1 - Heller Manus Architects, Parking Structure 1 - Walker Consultants
Structural Engineer: Building 1 - KPFF Consulting Engineers, Parking Structure 1 - Walker Consultants
Civil Engineer: Building 1 - Kier & Wright, Parking Structure 1 - BKF Engineers
General Contractor: Building 1 - DPR Construction; Parking Structure 1 - Swinerton Builders
Rockridge Geotechnical (RG) performed field investigations for the research and development office building (Building 1) and the first parking structure. The site is underlain by several groundwater zones. The Regional Water Quality Control Board required cross-contamination measures during drilling to prevent contamination between the groundwater zones. Cone penetration tests were performed using the retraction method, and soil borings were drilled using rotary-wash drilling methods. Steel casings of different diameters were strategically embedded during drilling to prevent cross-contamination between different groundwater zones.
The site is underlain by interbedded lenses of soil that are susceptible to liquefaction, and the soil is moderately strong and compressible. Building 1 is supported on spread footings bearing on ground improved with drilled displacement columns. RG designed the drilled displacement columns system and prepared the design submittal for permit application, as well as the documents for construction.
RG provided geotechnical observation and testing services during the construction of Building 1 and are currently providing services during the construction of the first parking structure.
Building 1 was built to achieve LEED Gold certification, using 30% less electricity than a traditional all-electric building. In addition, Building 1 won the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2021 Real Estate Structure Award for an Office Building due to its modern design and environmental friendliness.