Landscape & Urban Design Issue 19 2016 | Page 16

Silicon Valley’s Newest Rooftop Park Brings Workplace Amenities To New Heights DES A+E Completes One of Silicon Valley’s Largest Rooftop Parks The campus is the 2nd largest office project under construction in Silicon Valley. D ES Architects + Engineers (DES A+E) just completed the Moffett Place High Garden — a two-acre rooftop park — in the heart of Silicon Valley. It is one of the largest elevated parks ever completed in the region. Parking Deck to Greenspace DES A+E designed the High Garden to transform what would ordinarily be an underutilized parking deck into a green oasis. Instead of 250 parking spots, it has two-acres of greenspace. The park is one of the central amenities to the Moffett Place campus, which was recently leased to Google in its entirety. 16 Landscape & Urban Design Covering the top of a two-level parking structure, the High Garden is a departure from typical rooftop gardens in that it provides recreation opportunities for up to 650 users. It integrates active uses with basketball and volleyball courts for team sports. Passive uses include a community vegetable garden and a meditation garden complete with meandering rows of bamboo. Whether playing an afternoon pick-up game, walking with a co-worker, or meeting outside amongst the trees, the design intends for visitors to use the park.