Contemporary building on a hillside, featuring large glass windows and multiple levels, surrounded by dry grass and sparse vegetation under a clear sky.

Contemporary building on a hillside, surrounded by dry grass and sparse vegetation under a clear blue sky.

Headquarters Point

San Diego, California

Headquarters Point introduces a purpose-built life science space to San Diego’s Sorrento Valley, transforming a prominent canyon-edge site into a workplace that merges performance, landscape, and well-being. Positioned on a plateau with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, Torrey Pines State Park, and University Town Center, the project leverages its visibility to establish a distinct architectural identity rooted in place.

Client: BioScience Property Investments
Size: 214,000 square feet
Completion Date: 2025

Two sleek buildings atop a hillside, surrounded by dry grass and trees under a clear blue sky. Urban setting in the background.

Vertical fins and deep overhanging slab elements shaped to mimic the canyon forms combine to create a functional and expressive skin.

The two buildings have strong connections to the outdoors including southwest facing terraces on every level, tenant balconies, and an outdoor amenity area with views over the canyon bluff. Each building is planned with 16’ floor-to-floor heights and floor-to-ceiling glass. A skylit communicating stair connects lobbies on every level. A nature walk connecting the buildings offers tenant wellness options, enhancing the site fitness area, locker room, and bike storage areas.

A contemporary building with large glass windows, showcasing multiple floors and a balcony with a person overlooking a scenic view.

Expansive balconies dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, maximizing daylight, views, and access to nature.

Line drawing illustrating a landscape with structures, sunlight, and arrows indicating direction. Focus on natural elements and building placement.

Canyon Design

The design concept emerges from the canyon itself. Conceived as a singular mass “pulled apart,” the two buildings occupy separate sites while retaining a shared formal language. Their irregular edges echo the canyon’s topography, while extended floorplates create deep overhangs that mitigate solar gain, protect high-performance lab environments, and frame shaded outdoor terraces.

Contemporary building on a hillside with dry grass and shrubbery, set against a clear blue sky, near urban development in the background.

Architectural detail of a building showcasing concrete and glass elements, with wooden accents and blue sky in the background.

Materiality

A restrained material palette—white concrete, aluminum, glass, and cedar—reinforces the interplay of solid wall, carved void, and lightweight infill, reflecting the tonal qualities of the coastal-desert landscape. The compact footprint preserves sensitive canyon habitat, while strategies such as consolidated parking and integrated fire-deflection retaining walls respond to environmental constraints, including wildfire risk.

Contemporary office building with large glass windows, tiered balconies, and landscaped surroundings, set in a parking lot against a blue sky.

Sustainability

Designed as a health-focused campus, Headquarters Point supports innovation through both space and experience. A 50/50 lab-to-office ratio, flexible spec suites, and amenities including a fitness center, central communicating stair, and outdoor terraces foster collaboration and well-being. The project exemplifies a forward-looking model for sustainable, human-centered research environments.