Client: Adobe Inc

Overview

Sculptural trees and bubbly benches illuminate Adobe’s expanded campus in San Jose. The first all-electric building of its scale in Silicon Valley, Founders Tower is dedicated to the late co-founders John Warnock and Chuck Geschke, and was designed as a place for employees to foster connection and create the future together, and for the local community to enjoy.

As part of the headquarters expansion project, a pedestrian bridge was designed and developed to be an eye-catching and whimsical experience, that seamlessly connects the new and existing three towers on campus and introduces a playful gateway to the city of San Jose. Creativity Blooms, was inspired by the San Jose community’s agricultural history, the spectrum of color Adobe and its tools represent and the freedom they offer anyone to unleash their creative potential and imagination.

Goals

As one journeys across the bridge, they encounter the canopy of Creativity Blooms and become immersed in a surreal experience, with each tree featuring a unique spectrum of color and geometry, that invites exploration and discovery. The trees are composed of aluminum plates as thin as 1/8”, slotted and welded together to form a structural lattice. Each was designed to be a maximum weight of 500 lbs and to be assembled on site in (6) parts with custom stainless steel bolts.

Process

Structural connections were coordinated with the bridge engineers and contractors prior to construction so as to achieve a seamless transition between the tree trunks and pedestrian walking surface.

Lighting and structure were carefully integrated, blurring the lines between materiality, light and sculptural form. At night, the bridge lights up the San Jose skyline with vibrant hues, as colors emanate from the Adobe logo at street level, ascending to give energy to the “roots” that spread light and life across the bridge and tree overstory.

Additional Information

The existing roof terrace at the headquarters simultaneously underwent a full renovation that includes an integrated connection to the newly built Founder’s Tower and pedestrian bridge. A trio of benches, dubbed "Kiwi Peach Blueberry" was designed to complement the tree canopy stretching across the pedestrian bridge and help link the new and existing portions of the campus. The seating invites tactile engagement and an opportunity for repose and informal meetups. Positioned at the intersection of the new and existing campus, the red centerpiece acts as a gateway that simultaneously frames San Jose and the surrounding landscape. Maintaining the aesthetic language of the tree canopies, the benches’ rounded forms provide comfort, while the integrated lighting creates a lantern-like appearance during evening hours.