A joint venture between The University of California, Berkeley (“UC Berkeley”) and San Francisco-based SKS Partners (“SKS”) today unveiled Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park (“Berkeley Space Center”), a planned 36-acre innovation hub in the heart of Silicon Valley.
As envisioned, the multi-phase development would accelerate the area’s existing innovation ecosystem, catalyzing deeper collaboration between the private, academic and governmental sectors. The joint venture is dedicated to identifying, incubating and launching technological breakthroughs across a diverse set of fields including astronautics, quantum computing, climate studies and the social sciences.
Located within NASA’s Ames Research Center’s NASA Research Park, Berkeley Space Center would be designed from the ground up to foster a collaborative environment with the critical mass and infrastructure needed to expand the frontiers of knowledge and develop tomorrow’s defining technologies. Overall, the development is expected to generate considerable employment opportunities, including more than 6,000 advanced R&D positions.
Built for Dreamers snd Doers
Berkeley Space Center’s proposed master plan currently features 1.4 million square feet of Class-A office and R&D space, including wet and dry labs, as well as conference space, academic facilities and retail amenities. The site’s current plans would also offer nearly 18 acres of open space, including outdoor working yards and a central green area which would serve as a flexible platform for community gatherings, activations and exhibitions.
Later phases of the project would include short-term stay facilities as well as student and faculty housing. The site plan prioritizes density, efficiency and diversity of uses for tenants, with all designs geared to ensure a high level of environmental sustainability. Final leasable space is dependent on the final resolution of the master plan and environmental approvals.
Envisioned by a World-Class Team
Berkeley Space Center would build on and advance the University’s three-part mission of education, research and public service, while taking advantage of the campus’ academic excellence and leadership in emerging fields of inquiry and exploration. From NASA’s perspective, the Berkeley Space Center development would fulfill a nearly 20-year vision for an interdisciplinary innovation hub on-site at NASA Research Park.
“For NASA, this partnership has the potential to advance world-class research in aviation and space, thus helping improve life here on Earth,” said Eugene Tu, Center director at NASA’s Ames Research Center. “More importantly, Berkeley Space Center could also help inspire the next generation of explorers through future collaborations with the University’s students, faculty and partners.”
Project Timeline
The environmental entitlement process has commenced and is expected to last approximately two years, with construction tentatively scheduled to begin in 2026. The joint-venture partnership has selected CBRE to market the R&D space for lease. The leasing team is ready to initiate discussions with prospective tenants interested in built-to-suit opportunities. Source and images Courtesy of HOK.