Pathline Park

Nestled within the bustling and thriving world of Silicon Valley there exists an oasis of tranquility. On a 50-acre site located adjacent to the 101 and 237 Freeways in Sunnyvale, California, Pathline Park offers a truly integrated naturally landscaped technology park that includes over 250 mature trees that provide protection from wind and sun, and private, spiritually healing places for contemplation and inspiration, The successful achievement of Pathline Park’s design mission to create a campus that would offer a very real connection to nature was directly tied to the preservation of the existing trees throughout the site, some nearly 100’ tall with 50-inch diameter trunks. Innovative design solutions were required to not only preserve the existing redwoods and cedars and allow the entire site to naturally drain but to also provide all necessary infrastructure and design features including water treatment, pedestrian access, fire and emergency access, and utilities in a manner that would not alter the visual serenity of the park.

Pathline Park is an example of how the built environment can transcend by embracing and integrating within the beauty and serenity of a natural landscape. The design successfully incorporates existing trees, an elegantly contoured site with hidden pathways and gathering areas, and the needed infrastructure blended seamlessly within the 50-acre site. The final impression serves as an inspiration and validation of the true healing power of a thoughtful and beautifully landscaped site in harmony with the surrounding urban community.

In order to plan, design, and build such a transformative business campus the team faced numerous challenges including the need to locate all infrastructure and utilities within an existing site with over 250 mature trees totaling 8 acres of critical root systems. All site grading, drainage, and stormwater treatment was accomplished in close coordination with the landscape architect in order to maintain the visual aesthetic of the overall site. In the end, the success of Pathline Park is due in large part to the broader team’s ability to work together to overcome the demanding design and scheduling needs of a large multi-phased 50-acre wellness-oriented development.