SAN JOSE — Takara Bio USA, on the heels of its purchase this year of two big office buildings in north San Jose, has crafted plans to create a campus on its newly bought property.
The company is eyeing the development of an enclosed courtyard that effectively will create a unified complex and a link between the office buildings the company bought in May in north San Jose, according to preliminary plans on file at the city Planning Department.
The development proposal also calls for the construction of two canopies. One canopy will be built at what will be the main entrance for the evolving mini-campus. The other will be at a staff entrance.
The efforts are a reminder that some tech and biotech companies don’t necessarily intend for their employees to work from remote locations on a permanent basis, despite the uncertainties ushered in by the coronavirus.
Takara Bio USA is a Silicon Valley unit of a Japan-based biotech firm that’s a big player in providing life sciences products and services.
During 2017, in separate transactions, Takara Bio USA bought Fremont-based Wafergen Biosystems and Michigan-based Rubicon Genomics.
Takara Bio USA in May 2020 paid $44.8 million for the office buildings at 2560 Orchard Parkway and 2570 Orchard Parkway, according to Santa Clara County property records.
Together the buildings total 129,000 square feet. Each building totals 64,500 square feet.
The seller in the transaction was the University of California Regents. Brokers from CBRE and Newmark Knight Frank, both commercial real estate firms, arranged the purchase.
The buildings that Takara Bio bought are part of the four-building Valley Research Center, located near the corner of Orchard Parkway and West Trimble Road and just down the block from North First Street and its light rail lines.
The deal has positioned Takara Bio USA for a significant expansion. At present, the company occupies roughly 57,000 square feet at 1290 Terra Bella Ave. in Mountain View.
The timing of the revamp of the existing property wasn’t disclosed in the planning documents.
“The proposed design will remove the existing postmodern stucco elements and replace them with a simpler canopy design,” the company said in the proposal submitted to San Jose planners.
Takara also hopes to bolster its brand with the upgrades at the company’s emerging campus.
“The canopy design complements the courtyard natural materials palette and our client’s desired corporate image,” according to the proposal.