Located in an emerging business district in San Jose, California, Samsung’s new headquarters emphasizes work/life synergy, outdoor activity, and connections to transit.
The main Gateway Plaza passes under the main building and morphs into a more private courtyard, mostly for use by Samsung employees throughout their workday, characterized by pockets of space with recreational activities, informal gardens, and comfortable lounge areas.
The open, airy central atrium presents an inviting daytime respite for both employees and the public.
The building and its landscape are carefully crafted to encourage communication and interaction, leading to a synergistic working environment that will help further establish Samsung as a regional leader in Silicon Valley.
Courtyards provide al fresco seating for conversations and meetings in the fresh air.
A signature landscape band traverses the site, inspired by the symbolism of the Guadalupe River.
As the landscape extends past the mostly quiet and peaceful central courtyard, it opens into a campus quad that a large lawn, shade trees, cafeteria seating, and the Tasman Drive Entry Plaza.
Lush, native softscape interpermeates the space, commingling active play areas with quiet seating for contemplation and discussion.
As it meanders through the site, the character of the outdoor space morphs from urban to naturalistic.
The campus’s landscape plan offers intuitive circulation and a variety of outdoor experiences to enliven the workday.
The drought-resistant plant palette reflects the flora of the region while reducing irrigation needs.
Some outdoor areas at Samsung’s headquarters are devoted to quiet contemplation and yoga, while others have active features, including basketball and bocce ball courts.
Bocce courts encourage employees to interact outdoors and “limber up” their creativity with play.
Special places for respite, physical activity, and non-traditional meetings enhance the workday experience and leverage well-documented health and wellness benefits from contact with nature.
The office program is split into two masses (for R+D and Sales) and then reconnected around the dynamic central courtyard space to create a unique, interactive workplace with maximum flexibility.
Well-branded entryways establish sense of place and blend seamlessly into the streets beyond the building.
Samsung Headquarters
The new headquarters for Samsung in San Jose is a bold vision for a campus and a workplace that put interaction and synergy at the center – building a culture and brand that is powered by the best ideas and talent. The building is carefully crafted to encourage communication and interaction, leading to a synergistic working environment that will help further transform Samsung into a regional leader in Silicon Valley. To harmonize with the architectural expression of iconic buildings, we created a field of landscape throughout the site. A signature landscape band throughout the site that echoes the Guadalupe River. Fields of hardscape, softscape, and water features flow along the band; as it meanders through the site, the character of outdoor space evolves from urban to naturalistic.
Four main areas feature four distinct identities: Gateway Plaza, Courtyard, Campus Quad, and Samsung Gardens.
Shanghai Tower
China’s tallest building, Shanghai Tower, is located in the Lujiazui Financial Center Zone near the Shanghai World Financial Center and Jin-Mao tower. SWA’s landscape design establishes a “Tower Park” to complement the building’s iconic form and function, connect the mixed-use project with its urban neighborhood, and provide a variety of beautiful settin...
Lite-On Headquarters
This major Taiwanese electronics company chose the “Electronics Center” of Taipei overlooking the Gee Long River for their new headquarters. The overall concept is of a 25-story slender tower rising above a sloped landscape podium that covers much of the site. Below-grade parking slopes toward the river on one side, with the urban center on the oth...
Weyerhaeuser Corporate Headquarters
Founding SWA partner Peter Walker collaborated with architects SOM on site analysis, planning, and landscape development for this hugely influential corporate headquarters, which remains notable for its unique integration of landscape, architecture, and environmental stewardship. The 425-acre site was chosen by the design team with George Weyerhaeuser for its ...
Symantec Chengdu
SWA provided landscape design for Symantec’s research and development complex. The site was previously inactive and banal until SWA’s design reinvigorated the area, linking the building program and connecting the site to the larger city. The landscape design produces a “brocade,” weaving together the building and site program, and offering an oasis amid the de...