A 1960s Bay Area high-rise office building gets a refreshed lobby and plaza
In Palo Alto, Calif., design firm HGA has completed a $22 million transformation of the lobby and plaza at 525 University Avenue, a 15-floor, 194,000-sf office building. Owned by CM Capital, 525 University is the only high-rise office building in the vicinity.
The 1966 Brutalist structure was originally designed by California architect Tallie Maule, who served as chief architect of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system from 1966 to 1973. HGA refreshed the building’s 4,700-sf lobby and 45,000-sf outdoor plaza while respecting Maule’s original design.
“Our team skillfully navigated a complex approval process to honor Maule’s signature Brutalist style while thoughtfully evolving the space to reflect CM Capital’s vision for a more inviting and transparent environment,” Rob Zirkle, HGA Principal and Practice Group Leader, said in a statement.
To activate the streetscape and create a defined reception area, HGA added a front-door entrance on University Avenue. The design team removed outdated ground-floor office suites and replaced dark, film-covered windows with clear, energy-efficient glass—providing more natural light and improving street appeal.
The lobby’s antiquated overhead systems were taken out to reveal the original concrete waffle slab, which was painted to complement the existing exposed columns. In addition to wrapping the building’s core in travertine, the team used locally sourced redwood for the reception desk, slatted elevator lobby ceiling, and new plaza benches. The lobby also now features a living green wall as a centerpiece behind the front desk.
Outdoors, the plaza has become a more comfortable and functional open-air courtyard. In collaboration with the landscape architect, SWA, the design team turned the outdoor plaza into a modern space for tenants and the wider business community.
In the past, strong winds discouraged tenants from enjoying the outdoor space. After developing a trellis structure and modeling solutions in a wind tunnel, the HGA team designed two new pergolas to slow and redirect the airflow, while also providing shade.
Other outdoor enhancements include a small amphitheater with precast concrete seating, an accessible pathway connecting the upper and lower plazas, and a glass enclosure above the stairwell that leads to the underground parking garage. Scored concrete has replaced the original brick paving.
Sustainable features include high-SRI exterior pavers to reduce heat and drought-tolerant native landscaping with a metered irrigation system for future graywater use.
On the project team: CM Capital (owner), HGA (design architect and architect of record), ACCO Engineered Systems (mechanical and plumbing engineer), GT Jordan Electric (electrical engineer), MAR Structural Design (structural engineer), McLarney Construction (general contractor).
