The proposed San Mateo County Office Building 3 (COB3) is designed to accommodate the consolidation of approximately 600 County employees, including the Board of Supervisors, the County Manager, County Board Chambers, the County Counsel, and the Human Services Agency.
LoFT A+D was engaged to provide a preliminary ‘proof of concept’ design study for San Mateo County Project Development Unit to consider options for a redesign of the project currently in Construction Documents Phase with the goal of providing for the established program while maintaining the original or currently developing budget parameters. The County directed LoFT A+D to primarily explore a mass timber, or ‘CLT’ structural system approach, considered potentially appropriate for the scale of the building, shorter construction duration, more environmentally sensitive materials, and inherent aesthetic advantages. Steel and concrete structural systems were also explored. LoFT A+D provided code analysis, massing diagrams, fit plans, stacking diagrams, conceptual building plans, elevations, and sections. LoFT A+D also coordinated with geotechnical, structural, fire consultants, and a general contractor for design and cost feedback.