Makers Quarter Block D
LEED Platinum, Net Zero collaborative offices upend workplace conventions
![Makers Quarter Block D](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15043_00_makers-quarter-block-d_id29798.jpg)
Information
- Location San Diego, California
- Size 53,325 SF
- Completion 2018
- Certification LEED Platinum
Makers Quarter is both a place and a collective ethos inspired by the Maker Movement, which provides a creative environment in downtown San Diego to inspire entrepreneurs and artists to challenge convention and achieve new heights in innovation. The six-story Block D was designed as a kinetic, collaborative office hub at the heart of the Makers Quarter, providing a creative environment for entrepreneurs and artists that reinforces a sense of community. Public spaces within the building include balconies and an open entry courtyard, as well as exposed vertical circulation systems, showing the energy of movement within the building. The ground floor includes retail and restaurant suites open to the public, activating the street level surrounding the site. With a nod to the pop-up galleries and community venues that brought the project to life, Block D allows users to display art, which animates the façade and gives life to the architecture itself.
Impact + Innovation
Makers Quarter Block D was designed to achieve both LEED Platinum certification and Net Zero Energy—the first commercial building in downtown San Diego to do so—but the tight urban site presented challenges in solar orientation as well as designing for an undefined user. However, basic principles of optimizing high performing spaces started with an understanding of the occupancy, use, and hours of operation. Designing for the immediate unknowns as well as change over the building’s lifespan, flexibility was incorporated to allow Block D to achieve its aspirational sustainability goals. Highly flexible office suites utilize natural ventilation with motorized windows and garage doors on each level. An exposed concrete frame integrates with the natural ventilation systems to utilize a night purge of thermal mass for passive cooling during the day. A high-performance facade utilizes two active shading systems that enhance daylighting and provide flexibility to operate preferences within individual tenant spaces.
![Makers Quarter Block D](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15043_00_makers-quarter-block-d_id29800.jpg)
Process
The vision for Makers Quarter was determined through community engagement with local artists, businesses, and residents. The process was guided by the re-appropriation of public spaces and abandoned lots that gave way to the idea of an office building as an extroverted development. Block D was designed as a collaborative and kinetic office hub, promoting spontaneous and chance interactions by way of open circulation systems, courtyard, and elevated collaborative balconies. In developing an innovative market rate development, the team challenged traditional material and systems assumptions about this building typology to push cost efficiency for the project. As a goal, every building material had to provide multiple functions and be highly durable to minimize operational cost in the future. The team utilized local manufacturing for all the façade components, apart from the motorized sunshade system, to reduce transportation and promote local jobs. By establishing a direct collaborative workshop process between the design team and glazing subcontractors, metal panel manufacturer, and concrete contractors, the team minimized materials and processes for installation and refined the detailing for cost efficiency throughout the process.
People
Team
- Rod Kruse
- Jeff Shaffer
- Dana Sorensen
- Jeremy Knoll
- Christianne Jordan
- Matthew Winter
- Matthew Porreca
- Paul Kempton
- Danielle Buttacavoli
- Philip Bona
- Thomas Statham
- Frederik Heuser
- Daniel Brown
- Kyle Goebel
- Celina Echezarreta
- Glenn Veigas
![Makers Quarter Block D](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15043_00_makers-quarter-block-d_id29803.jpg)
![Makers Quarter Block D](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15043_00_makers-quarter-block-d_id29804.jpg)
Media
![Makers Quarter Block D](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15043_00_makers-quarter-block-d_id29805.jpg)
Awards
Arch Daily
Building of the Year Nominee
2021
The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design
Green Good Design Award
2019
San Diego Green Building Council
Merit Award, LEED BD+C Category
2019
Orchid and Onion | San Diego Architectural Foundation
Orchid for Architecture
2019
AIA San Diego
Citation, Design Excellence Awards
2018
AIA Kansas City
Merit, Architecture Large, Design Excellence Awards
2018
AIA Kansas
Honor, Excellence in Design, Design Awards
2018
AIA Iowa
Merit, Excellence in Design
2018
AIA Central States Region
Citation, Design Awards
2018
![Makers Quarter Block D](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15043_00_makers-quarter-block-d_id29793.jpg)