The City of San Jose was concerned about the appearance and visual impact of a proposed power plant that Calpine Corporation wanted to build in one of San Jose's few remaining undeveloped areas. Working with Calpine and the City of San Jose, Hillier Architecture designed an architectural treatment for the plant. The façade screens engineered by Geiger Engineers incorporate 58,000 sq ft (5,400 sq m) of composite Kalwall panels and 10,000 sq ft (930 sq m) of metal panel supported by 850 tons of galvanized steel. The unique structure which covers two sides of the plant is independently cantilevered 95 ft (29 m) up off of pile foundations.
Client
Metcalf Energy Center