Nonprofit signs lease in downtown Mountain View
A highprofile nonprofit group has leased a big chunk of space in downtown Mountain View's only office tower, the property's owner said Monday.
Silicon Valley Community Foundation has leased about 27,200 square feet in the highrise tower at 444 Castro Street at Mercy Street downtown, according to Swig Co.
“We are happy to welcome Silicon Valley Community Foundation to 444 Castro and are proud to offer them a space that adapts to their needs, resulting in a human-centered workplace environment,” said Elaine Dell'Aquila, a Swig Co. vice president and asset manager.
Commercial real estate brokers Luke Wilson and Rick Knauf with Colliers and Christine Slonek and Andrea Bartlinsk with Newmark arranged the leasing deal. The Colliers brokers represented the nonprofit and the Newmark brokers represented Swig.
The space that the nonprofit leased could accommodate 110 to 135 employees, using typical ratios for square footage per employee.
Silicon Valley Community Foundation acts as a clearing house for an array of charitable donations. Philanthropists, community leaders, businesses, and local and state government leaders are among the nonprofit's partners.
“We help harness and mobilize the incredible resources, expertise and skills of our Silicon Valley community to deliver systemic changes,” the nonprofit states on its website.
In 2018, the foundation was rocked by allegations that one of its top officials, Mari Ellen Loijens, who helped to raise $8.3 billion in charitable funds, was responsible for sexual harassment, bullying and being the key figure in the creation of a toxic workplace within the organization.
Loijens was forced to resign in a scandal that also ousted Emmett Carson, who quit his post as
the foundation's chief executive officer after enabling the brutal working conditions.
The foundation at present is located in an office building at 2440 El Camino Real in Mountain View. The foundation's future and existing offices are separated by about two miles. It wasn't immediately clear when the foundation might move into its new offices.
The new space will provide considerable amenities for the nonprofit.
“The entire suite, which was originally built to be a coworking space, is equipped with inclusive and accessible work and collaboration spaces and a courtyard,” Swig Co. stated in a description of the just-leased space.
The 12-story office tower totals 173,900 square feet. That means the lease represents about 16% of the space in the building.
Constructed in 1970, the building was renovated in 2001 and 2018, according to a post on the Swig Co. site.
“Outdoor plaza areas for tenants and visitors, tenant gym and a conference room” are among the tower's general amenities, Swig Co. stated.