Emulating both a hand reaching for knowledge and a rocket launching into space, the park’s focal monument is a chrome obelisk that contains an internal elevator to a viewing deck 140’ above. The tessellated domes below house a variety of activities including educational exhibitions. Tourists are attracted to a must-see landmark with a one-of-a-kind perspective on San Jose, while local residents are invited to regularly patronize the park with dynamic, rotating attractions, including

Reaching for the Stars

a performance light show, and various recreational zones. In total, the imaginative environment tips a hat to Silicon Valley innovation with an emphasis on community and sustainability.

Inclusivity

We envision the park as a site of play as well as learning. The environment contains various invitations for engagement precisely because it is the local community that will infuse it with a real sense of place -- people give this place a heartbeat. The park is designed to attract regular visitors with diverse recreational interests -- paths for walking and jogging; amphitheaters for talks, programs or plays; shaded areas for picnics; fields for sports; gardens with native plants for admiring and studying the natural world. Within the dome elements throughout, we envision art galleries and interactive exhibitions, cafes, learning, and lounging spaces. Our goal is to create a hub of cultural exchange, informed by the diverse constituents of San Jose and surrounding areas.

Sustainability

The built environment is designed with a commitment to innovative materials and cutting edge sustainable design principles targeting net zero. Some of the aspects we plan to incorporate are solar energy, non-UV degrading, anti-adhesion self-cleaning ETFE Foil (conceived for aeronautics), and mirror-polished stainless steel utilizing fiber laser welding to minimize visible heat distortion. Our design approach is guided by a desire to optimize the aesthetic and environmental performance of the structure envelope.

While several areas of the park reference futuristic aesthetics, we believe that practicing sustainability includes acknowledging the ancestral wisdom of native peoples as well as being in tune with the natural cycles of the land. Two design elements of the environment that stand out in this regard include native plant gardens throughout the landscape and a walking path that mimics the flow of water in homage to the confluence of rivers running through the park.

OVERALL SITE PLANVIEWING PLATFORMATRIUM INTERIOR

individual gathering pods

viewing platform

two way mirror with 360° views (shown as

transparent for illustrative

purposes)

five skaters and reflection pool

main atrium

biking / walking paths

biking / walking paths

open park space

Light

Comprehensively lit, the monument remains an iconic beacon in the city at night. Embedded downlighting illuminating the tower in combination with the LED cladding on the internal elevator shaft creates a sophisticated motion effect of a rocket blast column. This, coupled with traditional architectural uplighting is reminiscent of a nighttime rocket launch. During a periodic light show, sophisticated video projection mapping transforms the monument and cascading domes into an exuberant canvas that can be viewed from inside the domes, outside within the park space, as well as from a distance away in the city. While the landmark will be visible at all hours, providing a sense of geographic orientation, the regularly scheduled light show introduces a sense of time-space, like a village clock tower with an innovative twist.

NIGHT VIEW + LIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES

stainless steel clad hand

interior viewing platform: 360° views with two-way mirror

stainless steel cladding

down spotlights illuminating the main cladding surface emulating a lift off

elevator shaft + main structure

LED screens wrap the elevator column to create motion effects

viewable from the outside

supporting cladding structure

atrium landscape: hillocks and cave-like spaces

main atrium domes: lightweight frames and tufted ETFE panels

dome surfaces function as video projection screens visible from

inside and outside of the atrium

landscape domes: lightweight frames and tufted ETFE panels

biking / walking paths with river water-like concrete stain effect

adorns walkways in homage to the confluence of the rivers

open green space: gatherings and recreational space

architectural uplighting emulates a nighttime rocket launch

projection mapping illuminates the dome surfaces creating a flexible

show experience visible from inside and outside of the atrium

discreet downlighting illuminates the facade column

LED screens visible in breaks in the cladding allow for video motion effects

viewable from the outside