Kaiser Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kaiser Center |
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| Alternative names | Kaiser Building |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location | 300 Lakeside Drive Oakland, California |
| Coordinates | 37°48′32″N 122°15′52″W / 37.8088°N 122.2644°W |
| Completed | 1960 |
| Owner | The Swig Company |
| Height | |
| Roof | 389 ft (119 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 28 |
| Floor area | 976,000 sq ft (90,700 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Welton Becket |
| Main contractor | Robert E. McKee Contractor, Inc. |
The Kaiser Center, also known as the Kaiser Building, is a tall office building in Oakland, California. It has 28 stories and is located right next to Lake Merritt in the city's downtown area.
This impressive building was finished in 1960. At that time, it was the tallest building in Oakland. It was also the largest office tower west of the Rocky Mountains. The famous architectural firm Welton Becket & Associates from Los Angeles designed it.
The Kaiser Center was once the main office for Kaiser Industries. This was a very large company led by Edgar F. Kaiser when the building was constructed.
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A Special Rooftop Garden
The Kaiser Center has a unique garden on its roof. This garden was designed by Theodore Osmundson & Associates, a landscape architecture firm. It was the first rooftop garden built in the United States after World War II.
Many people thought that Henry J. Kaiser, Edgar's father, lived in a fancy apartment on the 28th floor. However, by 1960, Henry had given control of the company to his son. It was Edgar who likely used any apartments in the building. Edgar was inspired by the gardens at Rockefeller Center in New York. He asked for the rooftop garden to be added after the building's main design was complete.
What the Building Looks Like
The outside of the Kaiser Center is mostly made of glass and metal, especially aluminum. There is also stone covering parts of the building. This stone is a mix of concrete and small rocks. It probably came from quarries in California that were owned by Kaiser.
Who Works There Now?
Over the years, many different companies have had offices in the Kaiser Center. For example, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system had its headquarters there. BART moved its offices to the Kaiser Center in 2003 because of worries about earthquakes. However, BART moved out of the building in the spring of 2021.
Other organizations that have offices in the building include the University of California Office of the President. The Kaiser Foundation Health Plan also has space there. Other tenants include The Port Company and California Bank & Trust. The global technical services company AECOM moved into the building in 2016.
PG&E's New Home
In the summer of 2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced big plans. PG&E is a utility company based in San Francisco. It decided to sell its expensive downtown San Francisco headquarters. The company chose the Kaiser Center as its new main office.
PG&E has been moving its headquarters to the Kaiser Center. Employees from other PG&E offices in Concord and San Ramon are also moving there. The company expects to finish moving all its operations by 2026.
See also
In Spanish: Kaiser Center para niños
