Hopefully for anyone still stationed at their desk during this annual period of Out of Office auto-replies, August at least affords a few opportunities for extra-long lunches and early happy hours. Workers at 100 Altair, an office infill project in Sunnyvale, California, are particularly well-positioned to take advantage of the summer sun, thanks to a roof garden designed by landscape architecture firm SWA. 

What makes the lush amenity most impressive is not just the way that it accommodates the occasional off-duty break, but the way that it also facilitates real work — from casual meetings to full-blown team summits. In this way, it reflects Silicon Valley’s growing focus on outdoor extensions of the office.

The overall landscaping strategy at 100 Altair starts down at the ground floor, where the curbless streetscape flows naturally into the surrounding urban environment. Adding to this spirit of connection, walls in the HGA Architects-designed building slide away entirely to reveal an open-air “community lobby” that allows commuters to breeze right in from the CalTrain station nearby — or to stroll right out to the Plaza del Sol park across the street come lunchtime. Meanwhile, vertical green walls tease the garden that awaits on the roof.

Sure enough, for employees seeking a quieter, more private greenspace — either for working en plein air or for corporate events — the upstairs park provides an additional, more business-oriented oasis. Angular planters and zig-zagging pathways give the space a geometric identity while sectioning off various zones suited to a range of different work activities. 

Sheltered inside intimate nooks that veer off the main pathways, benches accommodate smaller, more focused conversations. On the other hand, a raised area beneath a white shade trellis creates a lively central common space. Along with introducing a stage suited to big presentations, performances and other special events, this platform also serves as a social patio (complete with green Adirondack chairs) during day-to-day use.

While 100 Altair may offer a secluded escape from the street life below, the open visual corridors created by its dynamic composition ensure that it still feels connected to the city beyond. Clear glass balconies allow workers to admire the mountain ranges in the distance, while subtle grade changes in the planting beds echo this rugged topography. The planting strategy, for its part, recalls the meadows of the San Francisco Bay Peninsula, with a mix of native tall grasses.

As a private office amenity that is still deeply informed by its broader context, the overall roof garden manages to strike a balance between vibrant park setting and productive workspace. So, if you’re looking to get down to business at 100 Altair? Head to the roof.