A Flexible Workplace for Research and Innovation
HED partnered with Drawbridge Realty to design a three-story, Class A research and development building in San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo community. The project sought to provide forward-looking workplace environments that balance technological sophistication with human-centered design, creating a facility that is as efficient as it is welcoming.
Set against the backdrop of the valley, the building was designed with both flexibility and tenant experience in mind. Sixteen-foot floor-to-floor ceiling heights and expansive windows allow natural light to flood the workspaces, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and enhancing employee well-being.
The exterior expression combines contemporary materials and generous fenestration with a high-performance envelope, maintaining energy efficiency without compromising aesthetics.
Recognizing the importance of outdoor space to workplace culture, the design incorporates landscaped terraces and patios that invite daily use. On the ground level, outdoor gathering spaces support informal meetings and moments of respite, while a third-floor patio offers expansive views of the surrounding landscape. These spaces provide tenants with opportunities to connect, recharge, and adapt their workday to different settings, reinforcing the building’s appeal to a variety of workstyles and organizational cultures.
The building’s tilt-up concrete construction, paired with its innovative design, earned recognition from the Tilt-Up Concrete Association as a 2024 Tilt-Up Achievement Award recipient. The award highlights not only the project’s technical execution but also its contribution to advancing tilt-up as a method for delivering high-performance, architecturally distinctive workplaces.
Blending sustainable features with contemporary design, the Rancho Bernardo development positions itself as a modern, adaptable workplace environment. It reflects HED’s commitment to creating spaces that serve both client goals and community context, offering a facility that supports research, collaboration, and productivity while embracing the natural character of its setting.
