San Francisco, CA: SOM’s Urban Planning Studio provided technical analysis and policy advice for a comprehensive study on improving the downtown area in San Jose, California. The findings of the study are presented in a new 63-page report published by SPUR, a nonprofit organization that advocates for smart urbanism. Titled “The Future of Downtown San Jose,” the report proposes ideas for how the city can make the most of its urban core.
Considered the densest, most walkable, and most transit-oriented city in the South Bay region, San Jose is well positioned to benefit from the growing trend toward working and living in urban centers. The report outlines six ideas for creating a more successful and vibrant downtown: welcome all types of uses; ensure that new construction adheres to key urban design principles; promote a larger area of “Central San Jose”; make it easier to pass through downtown without a car; retrofit the area to be even more pedestrian-oriented; and build on the downtown’s strength as the cultural and creative hub of South Bay.
The full report can be downloaded here. To check out SPUR’s other initiatives and events, visit www.spur.org.
About Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) is one of the leading architecture, interior design, engineering, and urban planning firms in the world, with a 75-year reputation for design excellence and a portfolio that includes some of the most important architectural accomplishments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its inception, SOM has been a leader in the research and development of specialized technologies, new processes and innovative ideas, many of which have had a palpable and lasting impact on the design profession and the physical environment. The firm’s longstanding leadership in design and building technology has been honored with more than 1,700 awards for quality, innovation, and management. The American Institute of Architects has recognized SOM twice with its highest honor, the Architecture Firm Award-in 1962 and again in 1996. The firm maintains offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Abu Dhabi.