In 1992, the multinational Life Science corporation Bayer formed a pioneering partnership with the City of Berkeley to spur economic growth and investment while producing vital treatments at a manufacturing facility just 2.5 miles from downtown. With the renewal of that 30-year agreement, Bayer developed a new master plan to more efficiently use their existing spaces and support employee wellness. With these goals in mind, Groundworks Office crafted a vision for their six-acre campus that maximizes opportunities for collaboration, encourages healthier behaviors, and strengthens the sense of community on campus and across the city.
Our plan transforms the campus into a park, building new connections with the coastal landscape and the surrounding neighborhood. At its heart, a new urban forest will mature throughout the course of the renewed agreement, growing with their commitment to the city and strengthening the connection to the native landscape. The forest is planted to imitate patterns found in nature, with taller trees at the center and ground cover blanketing and protecting the soil. Circling, crossing, and branching out from this forest, new tree-lined pedestrian pathways lined will encourage employees to walk, bike, and make healthier choices more frequently.
Across the campus, we created new quads and green spaces with shade structures and places for teams to gather. Like the forest, these quads use a consistent "matrix" planting strategy with an organic hierarchy of plantings to make the collection of disparate buildings feel more unified. Strategically placed perennials bring seasonal interest. Native and ecologically adapted plants provide habitat and attract birds, butterflies, and bees to improve the native ecology and enrich the campus experience while requiring only minimal maintenance. The campus no longer feels like a separate enclave but like a true part of Berkeley.
Groundworks Office developed a vision for Bayer's campus that, much like the collaboration between the city and corporation, will become a model for biotech companies across the Bay Area and beyond.