Advancing Civic Engagement + Habitat Creation
The County of San Mateo believes the headquarter to be an important symbolic addition to the region’s built environment. The civic campus engages with the public, provides efficient and transparent governance, and is uniquely sustainable and energy efficient. Anchoring the government center is 500 County Center, a new structure on campus designed by Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill. The structure configuration features a north and south public plaza – connecting residents through and around the building, creating a social corridor between the downtown Redwood City Theater District towards the south and the San Mateo County Government Center towards the north. These improvements to the campus create a destination for public programming – the north side café provides a heart to the center, while the two public plazas lend additional gathering space during events in the Board of Supervisors Chamber, and other activities, including receptions and public events.
Planning for the San Mateo County Government Center and County Office Building has dramatically shifted how county leaders approach future projects, adding new focus on sustainability, public health, and new public open space. The ambitious project is an example of a local government who is taking firm steps to address the challenges of climate change through smart design.
