A joint venture of University of California–Berkeley and SKS Partners will develop the $2 billion Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park, a 36-acre innovation hub in Mountain View, Calif., near San Jose. Once complete, the Berkeley Space Center is estimated to generate more than 6,000 jobs in advanced R&D positions.
The facility, within NASA‘s Ames Research Center, would have about 1.4 million square feet of office and R&D space. The project currently is going through the environmental entitlement process, and construction is expected to begin in 2026.
Plans include research facilities for astronautics, quantum computing, climate studies and social sciences. Berkeley Space Center will comprise wet and dry labs, conference space, along with academic and retail facilities. It will also feature some 18 acres of open spaces, featuring outdoor working yards. Subsequent phases of the project will include student and faculty housing.
Developers are aiming for a strong sustainability focus, with LEED certification, among others. It plans to use photovoltaic panels for energy generation along with storm water retention systems to use recycled water for landscaping and within the buildings. The campus will also offer multiple modes of transportation.
Plans include a central green area which will serve as a platform for gatherings, exhibitions and other activities. Rendering courtesy of Field Operations and HOK
The project will take shape within the expansive NASA Research Park, located in Mountain View, Calif., off Highway 191, some 13 miles from San Jose and 38 miles from San Francisco. It will be in close proximity to many of NASA’s research facilities, such as the world’s largest wind tunnel, the NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division and the Arc Jet Complex.