Amenities Inside – and Out

Menlo Gateway will include numerous amenities for office tenants and hotel guests, both inside and outdoors. Attractive outdoor spaces are essential elements of the project's design philosophy, and they are designed to work as hard at maintaining sustainability as they do at delivering aesthetic value. The project will include more than four acres of outdoor living spaces, including an amphitheater, native landscaping, advanced water management features, and an access path to Bayfront Park.

"The attention to landscaping and open space given to Menlo Gateway is unique for a commercial project," says project consultant Andrea Traber, AIA, LEED AP, director, sustainable buildings and operations, KEMA Services, Inc. "The development goes above and beyond to maximize land use to achieve sustainability, aesthetic, and community amenity goals."

Landscaping will use filtered rain and storm water for watering, and plantings and surface treatments are designed for water to soak in, instead of being piped away. Plantings will include native plants, in addition to drought-resistant grasses, shrubs, and trees, and water features that add visual interest. Parking areas will be located away from buildings, with shade trees playing a critical role in reducing the amount of heat that would otherwise radiate from paved surfaces back to the buildings. Shaded parking courts and paved walkways can reduce buildings' interior temperatures by up to five degrees, reducing the amount of energy needed for cooling.

Menlo Gateway will also connect with Bayfront Park by an access path and improvements to the intersection crossing at Marsh and Chrysler roads. With pedestrian and bike paths throughout the project, local residents will be able to enjoy a new expanse of open space integrated into the fabric of Menlo Park for generations to come.