CBRE Appointed as Exclusive Leasing Agent for New Class A R&D Development in NASA Research Park

CBRE has been appointed as the exclusive R&D/lab leasing agent for Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park in Mountain View, Calif., a 36-acre mixed-use development at Moffett Field led by the joint venture between SKS Partners (SKS) and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley).

CBRE’s Ben Knight, Bob Steinbock, Gregg Domanico, Michael Domanico and Matt Gutierrez will market the R&D/lab space for lease on behalf of the joint venture.

SKS and UC Berkeley unveiled the master plan in October 2023, which was co-developed with HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm, and Field Operations, an interdisciplinary, urban design and landscape architecture firm. While construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2026, the leasing team is ready to initiate discussions with prospective tenants interested in built-to-suit opportunities.

“Berkeley Space Center will play a key role in advancing innovation, offering Silicon Valley’s top companies and world-class educational institutions a hub for discovery and transformation. The collaboration between UC Berkeley and SKS underscores Silicon Valley’s reputation as a catalyst for breakthrough ideas and signals a significant commitment to the region’s talent and intellectual capital,” said Mr. Knight, Executive Vice President at CBRE.

Subject to environmental approvals, Berkeley Space Center will include up to 1.4 million sq. ft of next-generation, customized R&D/lab facilities with robust infrastructure. The master plan also includes retail amenities and 18 acres of public green areas that will incorporate the development’s unique location between the Silicon Valley hills and coastline of the San Francisco Bay. Later phases will include short-term stay facilities, market-rate housing, in addition to student and faculty housing.

Berkeley Space Center builds on and advances UC Berkeley’s three-part mission of education, research, and public service, while taking advantage of the University’s academic excellence and leadership in emerging fields of inquiry and exploration. Tenants can collaborate and cohabitate with UC Berkeley’s faculty, researchers, students and facilities, and contribute to Moffett’s growing aerospace industry and Silicon Valley’s culture of innovation.

“This is a truly unique opportunity for public and private companies to locate in one of the key innovation hubs in the world. Giving companies the ability to scale their operations in one place in Silicon Valley is unprecedented,” said Mr. Steinbock, Senior Vice President at CBRE.

Berkeley Space Center is adjacent to NASA’s unique facilities, including the world’s largest wind tunnel which is capable of simulating gusts up to 100 knots, as well as The NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division, Arc Jet Complex and NASA's Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS).

Caption: Aerial view of Moffett Field with buildings and outdoor areas in the day time (Credit: Field Operations and HOK)

Caption: Daytime aerial view of trellis in open green area, surrounded by buildings (Credit: Field Operations and HOK)

Caption: Daytime view of trellis and people socializing outdoors (Credit: Field Operations and HOK)

Berkeley Space Center aims to redefine how large-scale developments are designed, constructed and managed. The development team plans to pursue LEED building certifications and incorporate photo-voltaic panels for power generation; on-site treatment and retention of stormwater; diversion of waste through recycling and source reduction; recycled water for landscaping and use within buildings; and landscape design that uses plants to restore groundwater aquifers.

California approved legislation that would require companies with more than $1 billion in revenue to disclose their carbon emissions beginning in 2026. According to CBRE’s Global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) survey, nearly 70% of respondents reported a heightened focus on ESG in 2022 due to higher energy prices and government-imposed ESG disclosure requirements. Almost 80% of respondents cited green building certifications as having an impact on real estate decisions, while 58% of respondents said they’re willing to pay a premium for spaces with features like on-site renewable energy generation.

To learn more about leasing opportunities at Berkeley Space Center, click here.