Westlake Urban began construction on the major renovation of Westlake Realty Group’s headquarters at 520 South El Camino Real (the Westlake Building) in August. The building, purchased by Westlake’s founder, T.M. Chang, in 1975 has served as a staple of San Mateo’s skyline for many decades.
“520 South El Camino Real is both a marquee building in our portfolio and in the downtown San Mateo community,” said Kristina Chang, President, Westlake Realty Group. “This is an exciting project for Westlake and the Chang family.”
Designed by RMW Architects, plans for renovation of the Westlake Building are multi-dimensional and will incorporate sustainable and energy efficient elements, adding a variety of amenities for the building’s tenants. The multi-million-dollar project includes seismic retrofitting to fortify the building’s infrastructure and a complete overhaul of the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. The design incorporates a new glass exterior, a fully renovated interior, rooftop patios BBQ stations, planters, trees, and plenty of gathering spaces while incorporating sustainable and energy-efficient elements. In addition, current and prospective tenants will have access to showers, shared conference spaces, and ample green space on the street level.
Combining functionality and beauty, floor to ceiling glass will replace the institutional facade, offering an abundance of natural light to enhance the tenant experience. Westlake’s reconfiguration will also include the addition of rooftop patios on top of the 2nd and 4th stories, offering the addition of 6,379 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor space to the upgraded structure.
The building has added transportation amenities, including electric vehicle parking areas and charge stations as well as covered bike parking to complement the proximity to CalTrain and several SamTrans bus lines.
The project, which is scheduled to be completed in about eighteen months, is off to a great start. “Abatement and soft demolition are in progress and the project is on track for completion in early 2020. The remodel of the marquee building will not only improve the structural integrity of the 118,000 square foot facility, but also bring a more modern and sustainable space to downtown San Mateo,” said Kelly Chang of Westlake Urban.
The new Westlake Building will vastly improve the overall visual landscape of the property and complement its surrounding areas, as the building stands opposite the vibrant San Mateo Central Park and offer unparalleled views of the Park and the San Francisco Bay Area. Westlake’s fully retrofitted office building will help re-shape the look and feel of downtown San Mateo.
Prospective tenants can explore the 520 ECR website and contact the leasing team at Newmark Knight Frank for additional information.
