The Atrium

Emeryville, CA

Named for its feature space, The Atrium transforms a sixties era warehouse into a bioscience center primed for tenant buildouts. Collaborating with stakeholders and across disciplines, SBA facilitated a design that elevates the work environment and provides the functional requirements for future lab buildouts.

A graciously scaled entry canopy establishes street presence while a slatted terracotta screen animates the façade with an array of color. An expansive window wall reveals the warm wooded lobby within and frames views to the outside. The atrium serves as a shared amenity and is immersed in natural light by a series of sixty-foot sawtooth skylights. Custom benches frame opportunities for collaboration and moments of respite, while living plants and natural wood employ biophilic principles. Durable and elegant materials such as terrazzo flooring and locally sourced tile add nuance to the experience. 

Photographer: Garry Belinsky

A double-height atrium space with vertical wood slat cladding on the walls and ceiling. Several people are having a conversation at the reception desk. One person is working at a table in front of a planter bed along the wall.
An exterior view at dusk of the main entry canopy with multi-colored terracotta screen cladding on the wall. The building light fixtures are illuminating the entry canopy and the entry lobby.
An exterior view of the main entry canopy with multi-colored terracotta screen cladding on the wall.
A graciously scaled entry canopy with multi-colored terracotta screen cladding on the wall. One person is walking along a walkway in front of the wall next to planting beds and a circular bike rack.
A double-height atrium space with vertical wood slat cladding on the walls and ceiling. A planter bed is along the wall in front of a seating area. One person is walking through the space and several other people are working on a laptop at a table and in a yellow chair.
A double-height atrium space with vertical wood slat cladding on the walls and ceiling. A planter bed is along the wall in front of a seating area. One person is working on a laptop at a table.
A skylit atrium space with pendant light fixtures, planting beds and seating areas. Several people are walking through the space and sitting on chairs and benches.
A skylit atrium space with planting beds and seating areas. Several people are walking through the space and sitting on chairs.
A skylit atrium space with indoor plantings in gravel beds. People are sitting on wooden benches and padded chairs, one smiling woman is walking through the space.
Summit Public Schools Office Tenant Improvement
5900 Hollis Street
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