Projects

435 Indio Way

435 Indio Way

Sunnyvale, California
United States
435 Indio Way

While large tech companies compete for Silicon Valley land to build their new campuses, millions of square feet of Bay Area office space sits vacant because the aging, energy-inefficient buildings are unattractive to today’s tech startups and corporate tenants.

Breaking this trend is 435 Indio Way, a square, 1970’s single-story concrete tilt-up building that was renovated into a 100% daylit, 100% naturally-ventilated Net Zero Energy-certified office building, which was designed to pack as much sustainability as possible into the design while keeping within the developer’s budget.

Upgrading the envelope and reducing mechanical loads, paired with 43 custom skylights designed by Introba (formerly Integral Group) and the integrated rooftop photovoltaics, help achieve zero net energy usage for the building. The existing building was completely uninsulated with tilt-up concrete walls and single pane glazing. The zero net renovation concept was a simple one that relied heavily on passive and bioclimatic design strategies. These include highly insulated walls and roof, daylighting via skylights, fully controlled solar gain from all apertures, natural ventilation for most cooling needs, and fans for enhanced comfort control.

Introba provided the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, daylight modeling, photovoltaic design, energy modeling, and commissioning services that made the developer’s vision a reality. Where similar buildings require 18 months to sign a tenant, the Indio building was leased in only three months at a higher rent than expected. The project has been such a success that the developer has branded the concept. Introba and the Indio team have designed three more NZE renovations nearby.

Sustainability

  • Zero Net Energy (ILFI) Certified

Awards
Best Rehab Project, 2014
Silicon Valley Business Journal
First Place, 2017
ASHRAE National Technology Award

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